Now that Microsoft Build 2026 is in the rearview, we have a much clearer picture of the future of Windows 11. Agentic AI systems! Smart work ID badges! Always-on personal assistants! The path ahead for Microsoft’s current operating system will clearly feature AI in some form or fashion at every turn. But what about Windows 12?

Though it wasn’t a surprise that Microsoft didn’t announce its next OS during this year's Build keynote, we’d be amazed if work on Windows 12 hasn’t been motoring away in the background for quite some time over in Redmond. As such, we thought now would be an opportune time to speculate on a platform that will likely usher in a new era of AI integration.

Whether dealing with the petaflop power of the Surface RTX Spark Dev Box or the potentially paradigm-shifting Project Solara, AI agents will be run both locally and through the cloud to forge next-level hybrid computing on Windows 12.

But it’s not all about AI with our predictions for an OS we’re expecting in the not-too-distant future. The future of Xbox could also be intrinsically tied to Windows 12. With Xbox Mode continuing to bloom on Windows 11, don’t be surprised if Microsoft commits hard to PC gaming going forward, with more focus on creating a UI that can truly compete with Steam.

Without further ado, let’s get into some Windows 12 predictions, even if it does seem ludicrously early to be making them.

Windows 12 will be all about AI

Forget Copilot. The level of AI integration Windows 12 is going to embrace will be far more impactful than asking a digital assistant what the weather will be in a couple of hours. Microsoft’s new OS will have AI baked into its very core, with agentic systems that exhibit real autonomy handling the jobs you’d previously have done with apps.

This year’s Build made it clear that AI agents are a huge priority for Microsoft. As much as they’re shaping the future of your current OS, the use of agentic systems will likely leap to a new level with Windows 12.

Just take Microsoft Scout. This new Autopilot AI agent acts as an always-on personal agent. Rather than needing to be prompted like Copilot, Scout uses the MAI-Thinking-1 reasoning model to act autonomously. As such, it learns how you work over time, quickly becoming aware of your routines in order to better service your needs on any given day.

By the time Windows 12 launches, Scout and similar agentic systems will have had plenty of time to percolate. When Microsoft’s next OS is out in the wild, we could be looking at a platform where AI runs far deeper than mere surface-level window dressing. The days of manually setting meetings or switching between spreadsheets and emails could be over, as AI agents like Scout take control of your workflow, autonomously handling tasks so that you can fully focus on the most important aspects of your job.

Essentially, Windows 12 is going to be an AI OS, one that could potentially transform the way you work.

Hybrid computing will be central to Windows 12

The era of AI PCs has been around for a while now, yet it looks like Windows 12 could fully realize the potential of AI, in part, by turning the focus more heavily on hybrid computing. In this future of Jaws 19, hoverboards and flying Deloreans, users won’t need to worry about whether tasks are running on their NPU, CPU or GPU. Instead, Windows 12’s AI-influenced OS will autonomously figure out where workloads should be handled.

This isn’t about Microsoft pitting cloud AI and local AI against each other. The future we envisage for Windows 12 is where hybrid workflows are commonplace, with AI agents running locally on the systems like the Spark Dev Box (which we’ll touch on shortly) and through the cloud, too.

Ideally, users won’t even know where tasks are running. Less demanding AI tasks may operate locally, while heavy duty rendering could be split up between hardware and cloud-based infrastructures. If Windows 12 fully embraces the concept of hybrid computing, the end result will hopefully be an OS that balances performance more efficiently, as tasks run discretely across local hardware and the cloud.

AI agents will replace apps

Much of the focus of this year’s Build centered around agentic systems. AI agents aren’t just the future of Windows, they’re the here and now. We’ve already touched on Microsoft Spark being rolled out to Frontier customers, and before too long Project Solara will be upon this.

Built from the ground up on a Microsoft-tailored Android platform, the focus for Solara is on AI agents, not apps. Indeed, Solara seems keen to move away from traditional Windows hardware, instead taking the forms of a smart clock-like device and a work ID badge. The latter has been designed to assist users on the go, and it’s capable of recording notes before using AI to clean up audio that can then be sent to colleagues. It potentially represents a future of computing where you no longer need to be chained to a laptop to get work done.

Microsoft is clearly betting the farm on AI, and it’s entirely possible Windows 12 will be a heavily AI-assisted OS. Unlike past operating systems, AI agents will have far more importance than old-school apps. In this (potentially soon to be realized) future, your day will no longer be taken up by sifting through emails and spreadsheets. Rather, agentic systems will act as personal AI assistants, acting autonomously as they help declutter your workday to help you complete tasks more effortlessly and efficiently.

Windows 12 will light the Spark

There’s a line of thinking that’s easy to buy into following Microsoft's Build keynote: Windows 12 will be a “dev-first” OS. Now, Redmond isn’t suddenly going to forget regular consumers. But looking forward, it’s hard not to see the Big M being more focused on servicing developers' needs than at any other point in its history.

Enter the Surface RTX Spark Dev Box. Initially shipping as a Windows 11 Pro mini PC that’s built around the Nvidia RTX Spark superchip, there’s no question more enhanced versions of this little rig will support Windows 12 in the future. Designed to support locally-based AI development, this is a box that has been built to service agentic workflows that eat up huge compute costs. Thankfully, the numbers suggest the Spark Dev Box will be more than capable of handling such tasks, as this dev-focused mini marvel gives users up to an astonishing 1 petaflop of AI compute and 128GB of unified memory.

Rocking the power of a combined Nvidia Blackwell RTX GPU and Nvidia Grace CPU, the Spark Dev Box can power 120B+ parameter models locally. And that last word really is key. Spark has been designed to service the most demanding local AI tasks, in turn taking the focus away from cloud-based AI pipelines. Spark feels like a test run for what the future of high-end Windows 12 devices will look like: a workstation where the emphasis is on locally supporting AI agents to give developers more control.

Xbox Mode could change the game

Microsoft didn’t shine any light on its gaming endeavors during the dev-focused Build keynote, and that wasn’t a surprise. That doesn’t mean there aren’t big plans for the future of Xbox, particularly with how it ties into Windows 12 going forward.

With Phil Spencer gone, replaced by new Head of Xbox Asha Sharma, don’t be shocked if Microsoft’s gaming division goes through big changes in the next couple of years. We’ve known about Project Helix for ages at this point. And with the next Xbox promising to bridge the gap between consoles and PCs like never before, how Windows 12 handles Microsoft games may look quite different to the way Windows 11 currently deals with Xbox titles.

Xbox Full Screen Mode rolled out on Windows not too long ago, giving gamers an experience that’s more in line with Steam’s Big Picture. As Xbox integration continues to evolve, it would make sense for Microsoft to double down on providing a more console-like OS for next-gen games.

As for what Xbox Mode on Windows 12 could look like, there’s a reasonable chance we could see a gaming-focused app that’s more deeply integrated with Microsoft’s next OS. Imagine a more streamlined platform that you could boot directly into as soon as you fire up your PC. One that uses fewer Windows background processes to provide an experience that’s every bit as seamless as Steam.

It seems clear the future of Xbox is more deeply tied to Windows than ever before. As rumors swirl suggesting Sony could soon stop releasing PS5 games on PC, next-gen Xbox titles could provide the most premium console-like experience on Windows 12.

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One thing was clear at Computex 2026: every laptop maker is terrified of the MacBook Neo, and they’re fighting back in a big way. But I’m worried about whether Windows 11 is actually ready for this shift.

A $599 machine powered by an A18 Pro chip, Apple has essentially forced the hands of PC manufacturers who had gotten far too comfortable giving us mid systems at this price. But I’m glad the Neo-shaped earthquake has shaken up some change here. The new Dell XPS 13 is looking mighty tasty at that lower price, but with better I/O and a touchscreen display, alongside that aluminum body.

But there’s a big Windows 11-related question here, because as I found out testing it, the way it's built makes it quite RAM hungry. I caught it using nearly 3X more memory than macOS, and with all the new features announced at Microsoft Build, things could get worse.

So while it’s all fair and good in the world of RAMageddon to shift to 8GB (not something I like to see, but something that is necessary given the insane pricing), Windows has to follow suit and trim some of the fat. Here are some ideas.

Give me a compact mode

Right now, Windows 11 treats a $600 8GB thin-and-light the same way it treats a $3,000 workstation with 64GB of RAM. Yes, the OS’ memory management can be highly dynamic, but the core fundamentals take around 6GB, and the system aggressively caches background apps, so as to not waste any unused RAM.

This may work if you have a ton of memory, but we’re not in that world at the moment and every precious bit is sacred. So what we need is a modular, adaptive OS shell. If Windows 11 detects 8GB, it should trigger an aggressive “Compact mode” right out of the box to throttle background tasks, pause any non-essential tasks and prioritize anything active in the foreground.

Kill the “widget and web” overhear

There’s this thing called WebView 2, which is actually the culprit behind some of the most unnecessary bloat within Windows 11 — namely web-heavy dependencies like news widgets you never look at or some of the always-connected elements like Start Menu details or Copilot feeds.

A user should never have to lose up to 1.5GB of RAM to useless stuff like this, so it needs to be decoupled from the core UI. If a feature isn’t actively on screen (or used) it’s background RAM allocation should be aggressively cut down.

Standardize the vanilla baseline

Bloatware. You hate it — you’ve heard us complain excessively about it. Asus, Dell, MSI and Acer all ship their budget laptops layered with their own resource-heavy management software, which on an 8GB system is a death sentence.

Microsoft needs to enforce strict RAM-usage guardrails for laptop makers who create 8GB configurations, ensuring that third-party battery trackers, lighting software and trial anti-virus programs don’t choke that last slot of 2GB remaining after the OS.

Outlook

PC makers have just proven they can match Apple’s budget hardware pricing. Now, it’s up to Microsoft to prove that Windows 11 can survive the diet Apple forced upon it.

And sure, there are other things that can be done here, such as smarter compression of background apps, getting on with moving the entire OS over to WinUI 3 framework (the thing that’s removing some of that memory overhead) and much more. But these three items are the main RAM killers here.

Will it happen? God I hope so, otherwise this fightback against the MacBook Neo is over before it even begins.

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The AI Age has begun, and our digital assistants are ready and waiting to take on translation, transcription, complex calculations and many other processes. What used to take hours can now be achieved with the right prompts and tools in just minutes.

The same can be said of software development. Whether building apps to share with the world or just building tools to solve issues you’re facing in your daily workflows, “vibe coding” is here to stay and has democratized the development process for all.

Ten years ago, building software required years of programming knowledge. Now, you can describe an app in plain English, and AI can generate large portions of it for you. When you need to refine or debug, the AI will do that for you too. Microsoft's Copilot lays claim to be a particularly useful co-developer basically since it’s baked into just about every facet of Windows by now.

What 'vibe coding' actually means

Vibe coding is all about making sure you’re feeling comfortable while building. To that end, it relies on natural language input to build code that would otherwise have taken years to learn, like asking for a certain UI element to be resized, or suggesting color changes.

It’s less about digging through code, and more about explaining what you want: Intent over syntax. Copilot is already doing much of the lifting for the development community, too.

GitHub Copilot helps suggest how to finish lines of code while you’re in the zone, while you iterate using words instead of numbers and brackets. Agentic AI can run in the background while you’re working on Task A, getting Tasks B to Z done down to your specifications.

It’s not just apps, either. Ask Copilot to put together a spreadsheet that tracks your workouts, or a website for your personal blog, and it’ll do just that while following guardrails you put in place.

Why Copilot?

Microsoft is in a unique spot when it comes to AI integration, because it’s running it across the Windows OS that millions of people use daily. Oh, and it also owns GitHub, Azure servers, enterprise apps, and much more.

There’s an argument to be made that Microsoft is very close to creating the ultimate “vibe coding ecosystem” where Copilot writes code, Windows tests it, Azure deploys it, and GitHub distributes it. It could mean that having access to Microsoft’s Copilot AI can turn you from a solo bedroom dev into an app entrepreneur who’s able to share projects across the globe.

An app factory in your home? That’s the dream.

Following a precedent

OK, we’re not quite there yet, but it feels like Copilot is on the cusp of delivering something that we’ve not seen since, well, ever.

That kind of code-to-user pipeline is unheard of right now, but there are other examples of how AI and web tools have smoothed out challenging computing and design concepts.

It’s not all that long ago that you’d need pro-level software like Photoshop to make an awesome design, but now Canva can build what you’re looking for in minutes.

It used to take hours of research to compare products you were trying to decide between, but AI tools like Claude, ChatGPT and our own Tom's Guide Product Finder can now pull up every minor detail with ease.

Microsoft now stands on the verge of doing something similar for every aspiring developer, letting you build something for your phone, your PC, or someone else’s screen and provide support after release, too.

What about the risks?

That’s not to say there’s not due diligence needed when building an app through an AI tool. Bugs will need to be ironed out, and security best practices will be imperative.

After all, if you build an app in 5 minutes but it requires a month of fixes afterward, is the process really as smooth as you need it to be?

From another perspective, however, it means development teams will still be needed, and with the power of GitHub and Azure, you could even build an app by day and help others fix theirs by night.

Looking out for the little guy

If you’re a teacher building a bespoke app for a single lesson, you can put together a small piece of interactive software in minutes, built to your exact specifications. New parents can automate bedtime, feeding, and chore schedules, while aspiring artists can build a professional website to showcase their work.

Small businesses can avoid expensive accounting tools and keep everything in-house, using Copilot to jot down Excel formulas they could only have dreamt of.

The potential applications are colossal, and it could end up feeling like a second coming of Windows 11. Forget Windows 12, you could be telling your PC what applications you need to get through the day more quickly and watching them build in real time.

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Now that Microsoft Build 2026 is officially in the can, a clearer picture of the future of Windows 11 has appeared. Rather than announcing Windows 12, Microsoft is utterly dedicated to its current OS. That doesn’t mean the operating system you’re currently using is going to remain the same, though. Far from it.

After CEO Satya Nadella wrapped his keynote, it was hard to shake the feeling that the traditional desktop OS may soon be a thing of the past. Microsoft’s focus seems to be squarely aimed on delivering an AI-centred platform, where agentic systems are cooked into every corner of the Windows 11 experience.

Perhaps the main takeaway from Build concerning Windows 11’s future is that the OS could well make your day job easier going forward… well, unless you're a trapeze artist or a lion tamer. Using Microsoft IQ and MAI-Thinking-1, always-on AI agents will deploy real workplace knowledge to help users structure their daily workflow. The first of these to be announced was Microsoft Scout, and it could be a legit lifesaver for folks who struggle to organize hectic work schedules.

Microsoft is giving developers more tools to assist users with day-to-day tasks. That’s where the GitHub Copilot app (that uses the Big M’s new reasoning model) enters the equation. It’s available in preview to Microsoft Insider Program members now, and it’s just one of a number of productivity-focused features that could transform Windows 11 going forward. Let’s get into what that shiny new future might look like.

Scout and about

Following the latest Microsoft Build keynote, there can be little doubt as to where Microsoft’s focus is on when it comes to the future of Windows 11. Productivity-focused AI agents are going to play a key part in the evolution of the operating system, which is where Microsoft Scout enters the picture.

Available now to Microsoft Frontier customers, Scout is Microsoft’s first Autopilot agent. Focused on full Microsoft 365 app integration, this “always on” agentic AI can operate across the cloud, web and desktop, allowing users to connect to Outlook, Teams and OneDrive. To put that in more digestible terms, think of Scout as your very own personal assistant; one that constantly organizes your day as it learns and adapts to how you work.

Whereas traditional agents constantly needed to be prompted, Scout has been designed to work autonomously, allowing it to take proactive actions. This means it can help shape your working day by coordinating your schedule through 365 apps, be it organizing meetings across time zones or monitoring your inbox and Teams to flag any outstanding responses that need to be made. In theory, this should mean you no longer have to constantly flit between emails, docs and browser tabs, as much of this plate-spinning busywork can be delegated to Scout.

Powered by OpenClaw, Scout monitors your working habits through Work IQ, in turn becoming more efficient at helping you complete tasks the more it observes your daily practices. Clearly, Scout is going to be more useful for business environments than Windows 11 users lounging around on the couch. Yet if this Autopilot agent lives up to its virtual co-worker potential, it could genuinely change the way people go about their jobs.

Windows is thinking on its feet

Another huge announcement at Build — one that is directly tied to Scout — was the unveiling of MAI-Thinking-1. Microsoft’s new reasoning model helps the Autopilot AI out with planning tasks, and senior product manager Tanaya Yadav briefly demoed the tech during the keynote. While the task of training Scout could take hours, the endgame benefit should hopefully be AI agents that prove hugely useful for workflow purposes.

MAI Thinking could have a big and broad impact across Windows 11 going forward. With the future of Copilot and 365 tied to agentic systems, this reasoning model may shape Microsoft’s AI-focused goals going forward.

The pivot to MAI is also interesting in that it looks to free Microsoft from being reliant on OpenAI. As Windows 11 continues to evolve, Copilot should primarily take instructions from the Redmond giant’s internal reasoning tech. MAI is just the starting point too, as Microsoft’s AI Superintelligence Team (that must be one seriously cool business card) is also developing a further six in-house reasoning models.

Say hello to Solara

One of the most pleasant surprises to come out of Build this year was the announcement of Project Solara. This chip-to-cloud platform has been built from the ground up to ensure interacting with AI agents works in seamless fashion.

Probably the coolest feature of Solara is its eye-catching form factor. Because it’s been designed for spaces where traditional PCs and laptops might not be around, Microsoft has focused on delivering products that don’t take up much space. Enter devices which resemble a smart clock, and even more niftily, a work ID badge.

The clock-aping gizmo is intended to remain stationary, whereas the badge has been designed to be used while you’re on the move. On the latter, it can be unlocked with your fingerprint. The badge can even record video and take voice instructions, and it will subsequently clean up said audio so that you can send the note to colleagues in easily decipherable chunks.

Engineered with a new era of AI agents in mind, Project Solara takes cues from Android devices. The daring design of this new agent-focused OS seems to suggest Microsoft is fully committed to a new era of AI that thumbs its nose at traditional hardware by embracing imaginative new forms.

Security is being geared for AI agents

With Microsoft increasingly pivoting towards AI as the future of Windows 11 takes shape, the matter of security becomes ever more vital. While the prospect of Scout mapping out your workday as you sip on your morning mocha is undoubtedly an appealing one for folks who get easily flustered, protections do need to be in place.

This is where the announcement of Microsoft Execution Containers (MXC) becomes crucial. Now in preview, this security framework allows developers to run containment boundaries that are enforced by Windows 11. Essentially, a dev describes the security parameters it needs its agents to adhere to, then the OS enforces them everywhere these agentic systems run.

Now, while this probably sounds roughly as exciting to you as the prospect of dining in a restaurant that only serves steamed celery, MXC is important to the future of AI agents. As they become more autonomous, it’s crucial that these agents can’t accidentally access sensitive info or make decisions they’re not permitted to. With MXC in place, admins should be able to rest safe in the knowledge that this agent-native runtime is operating under safe security parameters.

GitHub Copilot shifts the focus to devs

Now available in preview to developers, the GitHub Copilot app is an AI-assisted engineering platform that brings agentic workflows to native desktop experiences. One of the major Build takeaways concerning the app is how it will work autonomously, though not in an unfettered manner (devs will most definitely still be in control).

GitHub Copilot will use the newly revealed MAI-Code-1-Flash, an internal coding model that should improve coding performance through latency reduction. The deployment of this MAI model is to ensure the GitHub Copilot app is more aware of good workspace practices. In turn, this allows it to function like a true agentic assistant, rather than a glorified chatbot that continually needs to be prompted.

Going forward, GitHub Copilot should make developers' lives easier, taking some coding pressures off their shoulders as it tests and deploys code with genuine autonomy thanks to AI agents. In an ideal world, this app will decrease developer workloads, rather than physically replacing them.

Again, none of this is particularly focused on the Average Joe/Jenny Windows 11 experience. Then again, Build has always been focused on developers over consumers. Ultimately, the agentic benefits of GitHub Copilot that developers receive will ideally lead to smoother OS experiences for all of us.

The future of Windows 11 centers around AI

If Windows 11 is just a gateway that allows you to jump into the best PC games, there likely wasn’t much for you to get excited about coming out of Build 2026. Yet if you’re a dev or someone who is looking to use AI tools to coordinate workflows, the latest keynote definitely provided a peek into the future of Microsoft’s OS.

Rather than revealing Windows 12, Microsoft doubled down on its commitment to its current operating system. Moving forward, AI is clearly going to be the cornerstone of everyday Windows functions. With agentic systems like Microsoft Scout leaning on reasoning models to help business-minded folks map out their day by coordinating schedules, and Project Solara devices that have been crafted to replace traditional hardware, the focus is on agents that have real autonomy in order to assist users. The Redmond Giant is going hard on a vision for Windows 11 where agentic AI is baked into its very fabric.

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Microsoft made the biggest change to Windows keyboards in 30 years by adding a dedicated Copilot key to its Copilot+ PCs when they started rolling out a couple of years ago.

Unfortunately, what looked like a means of leveraging Windows' massive adoption into an AI leadership position seems to have backfired. All it takes is a scroll through Reddit to see how much people dislike the button, and my colleague Tony Polanco called it the worst thing about Copilot+ PCs last year.

Now, Microsoft appears to be relenting by officially announcing it will let users remap the Copilot button back to the Right Ctrl or Context menu options it replaced.

In a recently published support document, Microsoft stated: "Customers who rely on the Right Ctrl key or Context menu key for keyboard shortcuts or assistive technologies (such as screen readers) experienced some challenges to their workflows when using these devices."

"A Windows 11 update will ship later this year that will add a setting option to let you remap the Copilot key to act as the Context menu key or Right Ctrl key. When available, you can find this setting in: Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Keyboard"

While I've never needed the Right Ctrl or Context menu for my own typical workflow, I've lost count of the number of times I've accidentally triggered Copilot by hitting that key. And while I use a number of different AI assistants over the course of a week, Copilot is very rarely among them.

Some PC manufacturers do let users remap the Copilot key with their own on-device software and we have our own Tom's Guide tutorial on how to remap the Copilot key on Windows 11. However, both of those solutions will require additional steps and won't be as simple as a native solution within the OS that applies universally to all Windows 11 laptops with a Copilot key.

Microsoft hasn't specified exactly when we may see this update, only noting it will be in a "future Windows 11 update." Microsoft typically drops major updates for Windows in October and, occasionally, in September. So in all likelihood, it could still be another five months before we see this change rolled out.

In the meantime, here are 7 genius Copilot prompts that make Windows 11 instantly more useful.

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This week Microsoft introduced a new tool that allows the company to remotely roll back bad Windows drivers even after they're delivered via Windows Update. The tool, Cloud-Initiated Driver Recovery, makes it so hardware makers and users don't need to manually fix bad drivers once they've been distributed.

According to a Microsoft Hardware Dev Center blog post, once a bad driver is identified Microsoft can initiate a recovery action that replaces the the faulty driver without intervention from you or a device maker. The problematic driver will be rolled back to the last known good version.

Seemingly, it's the latest in a series of moves from Microsoft to fix Windows 11. The company has spent much of 2026 promising to make Windows better with a Windows 11 reset, redesigning the Start menu and now, better driver patching.

How it works

The action will only be initiated if a bad driver is rejected during "shiproom evaluation." That process evaluates drivers and notes quality issues.

Currently, when a bad driver ships in a Windows Update, a hardware partner must submit a replacement driver, or end users have to manually uninstall the faulty driver, which can leave PCs with outdated drivers for too long.

"Today, when a driver published through Windows Update is identified after distribution to have quality issues, the remediation path relies on the hardware partner to submit an updated driver — or on end users to manually uninstall the problematic driver themselves.," Microsoft said.

Microsoft does note that if a "Driver Shiproom-approved" driver cannot be found a CIDR action will not be attempted.

However, if one is identified, recovery will be sent via the existing Windows Update infrastructure. You won't need a new client or update from the third-party manufacturer.

Better drivers in general

According to the blog, the company is testing the tool between May and August this year. Microsoft is shooting to roll back rejected drivers starting in September 2026.

It appears this could be part of an overall initiative by Microsoft to improve the overall quality of drivers. As pointed out by Bleeping Computer, the company announced a new Driver Quality Initiative last week at the WinHEC 2026 conference in Taipei.

"When drivers are high quality, customers experience reliable, secure, performant devices. When drivers fail, customers experience it as a device problem, regardless of where the root cause sits," the company said in an announcement.

Microsoft announced it will invest in partners and tools to improve drivers overall.

"In the months ahead, we will keep investing in the fundamentals that matter most to customers: reliability, security, performance, compatibility and quality."

If these tools and initiatives hold up, it could mean the end of frustrating driver experiences on your PC. Instead of hunting down the faulty driver, now Microsoft will do it for you. Fingers crossed this new tool works well.

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Now is the perfect time to update your laptop or desktop PC as Microsoft has released its May Patch Tuesday updates which contain fixes for 30 flaws rated as important or critical severity.

In total, the latest security patch applies fixes to 138 bugs including many that made network privileges vulnerable. Fortunately, none of the bugs are listed as publicly known or under active attack.

The patch was released at the same time as one from Google that addressed 127 security flaws in Chromium, which undergirds the Microsoft Edge browser.

Many of the flaws appear to be related to Azure and more business-focused Microsoft products. However, one of the more severe bugs impacts Windows DNS via a heap-based buffer overflow flaw that would let a malicious actor execute code over a network.

"An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a specially crafted DNS response to a vulnerable Windows system, causing the DNS Client to incorrectly process the response and corrupt memory," Microsoft said in its patch notes. "In certain configurations, this could allow the attacker to run code remotely on the affected system without authentication."

Hundreds of flaws fixed this year

Since January, when the first patch Tuesday of 2026 fixed 114 flaws, Microsoft has apparently fixed more than 500 CVE bugs already this year.

According to Hacker News, this can be attributed to a greater focus by Microsoft on vulnerability discovery, some of which is heavily assisted by AI-based flagging. Microsoft claimed as much in a recent Microsoft Security Response Center report released this week.

"Microsoft engineers and the wider security community alike are increasingly using AI to examine software more carefully and more often than was practical even a few years ago," Tom Gallagher said in the report.

How to stay safe with Patch Tuesday

First and foremost, update your Windows laptop or desktop with the latest system update or patches. You also want to make sure that Windows Defender is enabled so that it can scan your system for dangerous malware.

Of course, we always recommend using one of the best antivirus software packages for extra protection.

In the MSRC report, Gallagher recommends practicing good cyber hygiene, which we wholeheartedly agree with. This includes enabling multi-factor authentication, creating strong passwords, and using one of the best password managers

As always, and in general, don't click links or attachments from unknown senders, as they could contain malware or send you to phishing sites designed to steal your personal information.

By practicing good cyber hygiene and regularly updating your computer, you should be safe from most attacks.

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If you’re a Windows 11 user, you’re already familiar with the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) — popping up when a critical error forces the operating system to stop. Normally, the blame falls on Microsoft (although its team is working hard on improving Windows soon). But if you’ve been seeing this happen on your Dell PC, it turns out the culprit is so much more ironic.

As spotted by Neowin, Dell’s own SupportAssist software (the company calls it “your personalized PC support experience”) is causing some Dell PCs to hit a BSOD every 30 minutes after a recent update. So far, we’re seeing confirmation that the following laptops are affected:

• Alienware M16 R2
• Dell Pro 16 Plus
• Dell Pro 14 Plus
• Dell XPS 16
• Dell XPS 15
• Dell XPS 14
• Dell XPS 13

This is based on what Dell forum members are saying, but given it’s widespread, I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s a far wider problem than this. If you’re one of these folks who just installed the Dell software update and are seeing this issue, there is a simple fix.

Just uninstall SupportAssist

The situation was revealed after keen-eyed users took a look into the system log to see what was going on. It was identified after some people reported their laptops “kept randomly rebooting” roughly every 30 minutes. This suggests that the SupportAssist is trying to check system health on a regular half-hour schedule, where it hits a corrupted piece of code and crashes it.

As you can see, there’s a lot of critical errors at the Kernel-Power level — basically the system level — and after a check, the critical process that dies has consistently been the “Dell SupportAssist Remediation” service. Giving a “CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED (0xEF)” code, it’s taking down the entire operating system with it.

And it’s not the first time this has happened, with a similar SupportAssist problem happening at the end of 2024. Luckily, just like the last time, the issue is simple. Go to Settings > Apps > Installed Apps, find Dell SupportAssist, select More > Uninstall.

Users who have already done this are reporting that it fixes the issue and they’re not seeing any more random BSOD crashes.

Can we cool it with the bloatware?

Windows 11 already has a RAM problem. It’s inherent to how the OS prioritizes preloading parts of apps into system memory before you click them, but what that means is all these little additions actually harm the experience rather than enrich it.

Things like Dell SupportAssist take up another chunk of that precious RAM that could be better used elsewhere on apps people actually use. And while the Windows K2 project may be aiming squarely at tackling some of these challenges at an OS-level, I can only imagine that the additional bloatware won’t help the situation.

So I beg of you, Dell and others, please just let us have a clean install, so we don’t have to uninstall all the unnecessary heft!

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Microsoft has been promising to improve Windows 11 since January and we may see that overhaul begin with the Start Menu. The tech giant is rebuilding the Start menu with customization options and improved performance.

According to our friends at Windows Central, Microsoft is working on an update that's designed to give you more control over how the the menu looks and operates. It fits with promises made in March that detailed more customization and performance improvements for Windows 11 as a whole.

What is Microsoft potentially changing

Per Window Central, the initial look of the Start Menu will appear similar to how it already does in Windows 11. The difference will be in customization options configurable in the Windows Settings app.

Examples include the ability to turn off specific sections of the menu and choosing between small or large layouts. Currently, you can only see the small and large layouts depending on your screen size and device. This would let you set the menu to your preferred size regardless of what kind of device you're using.

As for toggling off sections, allegedly, you can turn off different things like the recommended feed or pinning apps in the menu. You could potentially even disable the all apps list.

Beyond customization, the new Start menu is supposed to be much more responsive, even when under intense load. This is supposed to extend to the search bar in the menu where you'll be able to type and search without any noticeable slowdown or missed keys.

What could have been

The alleged changes come out as Microsoft's design team shared on its Instagram page the approach that was taken to redesigning the Start menu. Unfortunately, the comments under that post are not kind.

"I don't like the new Start Menu at all. It doesn't fulfill my personal necessities and it makes everything more frustrating and time consuming. I even pay a third party software that modify it," one person wrote.

The comments were eventually turned off.

Windows Latest points out that the Windows Design team released a blog post last year that revealed five prototype Start menus. Some commentators called the prototypes more beautiful. However, looking at some of the images, all five still appear to have the same problems that the current menu does.

To be honest, it just makes us miss the Windows 10 Start Menu, which mixed app lists and tiles in a more usable way.

Microsoft says it wants to solve the pain points in Windows 11 throughout 2026. It appears the Start Menu will be one of the first changes.

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Let’s be real. Nobody I know has anything good to say about Microsoft Copilot. Shoved down our throats in any way possible in Windows 11, it’s turned the OS into a bloated behemoth that consumes the very thing we’re all seeing get way more expensive — RAM. And for what? Some rewriting tools, AI image generation in Paint and a searchable visual timeline of everything you do that’s quite a security risk, which is all ignored by users.

So it’s fair to say that I got a little hyped when I saw the “commitment to Windows quality” blog, which confirms a major update with reduced Copilot features and better efficiency. Microsoft listened…at least that’s what I thought. Because what we’re actually getting from the first signs of these changes is a simple rebranding. Copilot is still there — it’s just called something different.

An AI wolf in sheep’s clothing

As discovered by Windows Latest, the Notepad app and Snipping Tool are the first signs of Microsoft starting to rollback Copilot in the latest Windows 11 Insider Preview. Copilot logos have disappeared from Notepad and the Snipping Tool.

But as is clearly apparent, this is mostly just branding only. Instead of a colorful Copilot button, Notepad gets a “Writing tools” icon, whereas the Snipping Tool is actually AI-free from the looks of it. Being someone who got tired of seeing Copilot everywhere, it’s definitely a welcome change.

Though, it does make me nervous that the idea of Microsoft being “intentional about how and where Copilot integrates across Windows” may be more like “let’s just hide it in plain sight.”

Outlook

That’s not to say this Windows 11 commitment is for nothing. We could very well just be seeing a small slither of the wider changes that could reduce AI integration to only where (in Microsoft’s words) it’s “most meaningful, with craft and focus.”

But early updates do give us an indication of where Microsoft is thinking of going, and simply changing the presentation rather than removing unnecessary feature sets does not instill confidence here.

Taskbar customization, a faster File explorer and reduced Windows Updates disruption are all good things, but if Microsoft doesn’t genuinely hit the biggest performance consumer here, then we’re right back at square one — only looking prettier. I hope the company goes harder on the run up to Build 2026.

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Since the beginning of the year, Microsoft has been quietly promising to improve Windows 11, even going so far as to refocus its engineers to resolve the "core issues" with the operating system. Today, Microsoft released a highly detailed memo committing to improving "performance, reliability, and craft."

Microsoft's executive vice president of Windows + Devices Pavan Davuluri wrote in the memo that the company had spent the last few months listening to those "who care deeply about Windows and want it better."

The memo outlines a broad plan with areas of focus that should start appearing in the April update. Davuluri says we should see "tangible progress" in preview builds throughout the rest of 2026.

Yes, based on this memo, we can expect a lot of changes, tackling everything from system performance to customization and some AI.

Davuluri says that everything announced today will be tested first by the Windows Insider community. Including a big redesign to its Feedback Hub to make it faster and easier to submit feedback on Windows 11.

"Thank you for holding us to a high standard. Windows is as much yours as it is ours," Pavan said.

What's coming?

We rarely get such a public commitment with specific types of changes. So, what is Microsoft committing to?

Initially, in April, the changes will start with the ability to reposition the taskbar to the top or sides of the screen and a reduction of Copilot integration in Windows apps like Photos, Notepad and the Snipping Tool.

Expect less disruptive Windows updates with “fewer automatic restarts and notifications." Plus, you'll get the ability to skip updates during initial device setup.

Microsoft is also planning to improve File Explorer in the first rounds of improvements. “Our first round of improvements will focus on a quicker launch experience, reduced flicker, smoother navigation and more reliable performance for everyday file tasks,” Davuluri promises.

After that, widgets in Windows 11 will get more personalization features and "quieter defaults."

Reliability and performance are two of the big promises with Microsoft promising to reduce the number of resources Windows consumes and "improving the baseline reliability." That includes what Davuluri calls craft with a focus on "raising the bar" on the overall usability of the Windows 11 experience.

In all, it's a broad list of fixes. I'm not certain it directly covers everything, including the annoying pop-ups demanding you use Edge or Bing or anything Copilot. You should read the full memo for all the promised fixes.

Still, Davuluri is promising a more nuanced approach to Copilot integration. This fits with a January report that Microsoft is pulling back on stuffing Windows 11 with AI.

It's one of the few companies that actually seems to be stepping away from AI as everyone else bull rushes through the china shop to shove it in every piece of tech.

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Microsoft just issued a Windows 11 Release Preview build that previews a bunch of new features coming to the OS.

The team at Redmond has been doing this on a regular basis for months, but this one follows the company reportedly pulling back on stuffing Windows 11 with AI.

The name of the game here is optimization and upgrading the quality of life of using Windows, and these new features make me cautiously optimistic that we’re heading in the right direction.

The Taskbar is getting more helpful

First of all, there is now an option to run a network speed test directly from the taskbar — great for helping check network performance or identify any issues if you’re not seeing pages load.

Also, shout-out to the improvement that doesn’t move multiple windows of the same app into an overflow area, and just uses the space available on the bar itself.

Faster ‘wake up’ times for your PC

Microsoft has made some performance improvements and optimized how Windows resumes from “sleep” mode. If you’ve ever felt like your laptop takes a while to wake up when you leave a lot of apps open before closing the lid, this update specifically targets that.

You can expect your system (be it notebook or desktop) to feel snappier when you wake it up, which should bring some equality between the zippy Snapdragon X Elite systems and those from Intel and AMD.

Camera control

Tired of AI trying to frame your face on the webcam? Now there are manual controls! Within “Bluetooth & devices” settings, you’re now able to control the pan and tilt for supported cameras.

This is because it’s often easy to trick AI framing, and many people may not want dramatic zooms that are out of their control.

That’s not all…

There are other noteworthy updates coming, too, and all of them seem to indicate a shift from Microsoft towards “pulling back” from stuffing Windows 11 with AI. Not groundbreaking, but useful features and optimizations:

• You’ll finally be able to set .webp image files as your desktop wallpaper.
• The “Storage Settings” page is now much faster at scanning for temporary files to help you reclaim disk space.
• Windows update page now responds faster when you click “Check for updates.”
• New emoji alongside the 16.0 release — including a harp, splatter and a face with bags under eyes (hard relate).

Of course, we have a long way to go in the area of bringing Windows 11 back to the promised land.

Optimizations and efficiencies need to be made to help the OS run smoother (using less memory that is currently being consumed in the RAM crisis), and my dream would be to see Microsoft tackle the many unnecessary pop-ups promoting different services to subscribe to, alongside the ads.

But this is definitely a small step in the right direction. These features are all on gradual rollout, so don’t expect to see them all immediately if you’re on the Windows Insider program!

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Support for Windows 10 ended officially in October 2025, and while over 60% of PC users have made the switch to Windows 11, 35% are still using the older OS. Look, I get that it’s tricky to break an old habit, but for those users, this has become a significant security concern.

In a new blog post, Microsoft has announced a “generational refresh” of Secure Boot certificates, which means the current ones are set to expire in late June.

If you’re on Windows 10 without these certificates, you could miss out on future security updates, and, as Microsoft says, you will risk a “degraded security state.”

What is Secure Boot?

Secure Boot is an authorization process that only allows the PC to run trusted software on startup, which stops malicious hacks during the boot.

These certificates have been around for 15 years — since 2011 with Windows 8, so it makes sense that they’re renewed to an updated standard.

How could this affect your system?

If you’re on Windows 11, you’ll just receive the updated certificates with “no additional action required.” On top of that, chances are some of you reading this may already have them, as Microsoft has been working with PC manufacturers and “provisioning updated certificates” on desktops and laptops sold in 2024 and 2025.

However, if you’re on “Windows 10 and older”, you won’t be protected from new boot-level vulnerabilities, which will put your computer at risk from the second you hit the power button.

What do you need to do?

Well, you’ve got two options here. The first obvious one that Microsoft is really wanting you to do is upgrade to Windows 11.

• You can either pick up a new system, and we’re always busy testing the best laptops, best gaming laptops and best desktops to help you make the right choice.
• Or if you’re keen to stick with your older Windows 10 system, there are ways to bypass Microsoft’s restrictions and install Windows 11. We’ve got a guide on how to do that.

If neither of these are not to your liking — maybe you have a severe allergy to Windows 11, and you want to wait for when Microsoft pulls back on stuffing it with AI. Well, there is the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program.

Follow our guide and you can expect to get these new certificates, since this program is set to run for a year starting from its launch in October.

Though it’s fair to say that by this point, going this route is kind of like kicking the can down the road. We’ll be back in this situation once October 13, 2026 rolls around.

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Is Microsoft finally starting to see the light? It’s no secret that the company’s obsession with AI has gone over about as well as a lead balloon with the Windows faithful.

For the past year, it has felt like every update was less about making our lives easier and more about cramming Copilot into every nook and cranny of Windows 11. The backlash has been so loud and so consistent that a specific, none-too-flattering nickname has been trending across social media: "MicroSlop."

It’s a harsh term, but it perfectly captures the exhaustion of a user base that feels like their OS is being filled with non-essential AI features at the expense of stability, privacy, and common sense.

Whether it’s unwanted buttons in the taskbar or AI-powered "assistance" in apps that don’t need it, the sentiment is clear: people are tired of AI being shoved in their faces.

Turning the page on AI?

Wall Street seems to agree, too. Microsoft’s stock just took a massive 10% nosedive — its biggest single-day drop since the 2020 crash.

That's $400 billion in market value, and the equivalent of McDonald's, Burger King, Coca-Cola and Starbucks all going to zero overnight. Turns out investors aren't too happy with their returns on AI spending!

Thankfully, the message seems to have reached the higher-ups in Redmond. According to a new report from Zack Bowden over at Windows Central, Microsoft is reevaluating its AI strategy for Windows 11.

Citing sources familiar with the company's plans, Bowden details how Microsoft is looking to streamline — or outright remove — Copilot integrations across several "in-box" apps like Notepad and Paint starting in 2026.

The report suggests that internal teams have realized that haphazardly slapping a Copilot icon on every UI surface isn't actually helping anyone. In fact, Microsoft has reportedly paused work on adding new Copilot buttons to other built-in apps, signaling a shift toward being more "tactful and deliberate" with where AI actually appears.

Recalling Recall

The biggest admission of defeat may involve Windows Recall. According to Bowden’s sources, Microsoft internally views the current implementation of Recall as a failure.

While the company isn't scrapping the "photographic memory" concept entirely, they are reportedly looking to evolve it into something else — possibly even dropping the tainted "Recall" branding in the process.

While under-the-hood AI efforts like Semantic Search and new APIs for developers are still moving ahead, the heavy-handed, front-facing AI features that have annoyed so many of us are potentially on the chopping block.

Outlook

I’ve been a Windows user since the late 90s—I've lived through the highs of Windows XP and 7, and the dark days of Vista and 8.

But even as a long-term fan, I’m getting fed up with how bloated and sluggish the OS has become in recent years. Every time I open a simple text editor or try to find a file, I don't want a digital assistant trying to sell me on a "smarter" way to work.

I honestly hope this reevaluation is the real deal. Lessening these forced AI integrations would go a long way in making Windows feel like a tool again, rather than an advertising platform for Microsoft’s latest buzzword.

If Redmond actually follows through on cleaning up the "slop" and focuses on making the core OS fast and reliable, it might finally regain the trust of users like me who just want a clean place to get work done.

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After years of warning, Windows 10 reaches the end of life in October 2025, and Windows 11 becomes the supported and default Microsoft operating system. Unfortunately, that transition has not been smooth or friendly to PC users.

The Verge's Tom Warren just released a massive new report saying that Microsoft is shifting its engineers to focus on resolving core issues with Windows 11 in an attempt to win back customer trust.

There are a lot of details about what's coming, and you should read Warren's article, but here's what you need to know.

“The feedback we’re receiving from our community of passionate customers and Windows Insiders has been clear. We need to improve Windows in ways that are meaningful for people,” Pavan Davuluri, president of Windows and devices, told Warren.

Running list of issues

Earlier this month, the company released its first 2026 patch that was meant to fix over 100 bugs, a fairly common monthly release. That patch was so broken that it introduced new bugs, including one that made it impossible to actually shut down your computer.

Between an infusion of seemingly unwanted AI, like the ongoing failure that is Recall, so much so that Microsoft has a new "Microslop" nickname. CEO Satya Nadella has begged people to stop calling AI slop.

Plus, the company has inserted advertisements into core Windows 11 functions, reportedly upsetting customers.

How will things get fixed?

Apparently, Microsoft has been tight-lipped about how it plans to improve Windows 11, but is using a process called "swarming," where teams of engineers are redirected to urgently solve Windows 11 performance issues.

"This year you will see us focus on addressing pain points we hear consistently from customers: improving system performance, reliability, and the overall experience of Windows," Davuluri said.

Windows is a dominant force in the computing world, from daily consumers to businesses. Even so, the missteps surrounding Windows 11 have eroded Microsoft's standing.

Tom's Guide will be tracking what Microsoft does this year to see if the engineers are capable of righting the boat.

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Your computer's supposed to shut down when you tell it to. That's pretty basic. But a recent Windows 11 update threw a wrench in that simple expectation for some users. Hit the shutdown button, and instead of powering down, the PC just restarts.

Specifically, those using Windows 11 Enterprise with System Guard Secure Launch enabled have run into trouble. Although Microsoft acknowledged the problem and rolled out a fix on January 17 2026, some people are still dealing with computers that refuse to stay off.

Here's exactly what happened and how you can fix it.

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Windows 11 has been going strong for five years now, yet I still meet people who use it like Windows 10. And while it works just fine for them, I feel bad when I hear them complaining about it because Windows 11 doesn't work the way they want it to.

I totally understand, because I too miss the good old days of Windows before it started advertising Microsoft services to you and pushing all your data into Microsoft servers. But the fact is that Windows 11 is here to stay, and now that Windows 10 is officially dead you'd be wise to update to Windows 11 and get comfortable using it.

To help you I figured I'd quickly share my favorite hidden and hard-to-find features in Windows 11 that make it a lot easier and more efficient for me to use during my workday. I wrote our Windows 11 review so I've been using it since launch and had a front-row seat as Microsoft steadily added new features over the years.

With that in mind, I wanted to quickly run down my five favorite Windows 11 features that I rarely see people taking advantage of. This is what I use to make Windows 11 more comfortable and more efficient to use. I hope you find something here that works for you! And if you have any favorite Windows 11 tips let us know in the comments.

Focus modes

If you're not using Windows 11's focus sessions feature when you're working, you're missing out on a very useful tool for staying productive during the day.

I know because I use it myself as basically a Pomodoro timer, replacing the old browser extensions and apps I used to use to keep myself on task for focused 45-minute work sessions.

But with focus modes in Windows 11 you can just tell Windows how long you want to work without distraction. Here's how it works: you can configure a custom focus session from 5 - 240 minutes long, and configure which notifications (if any) you want to see during your session. You can also choose to hide badges on apps, flashing icons on the taskbar and more. You will then see a timer appear on your screen counting down how much time remains in your focus session, with built-in 5 minute breaks.

The fastest way to set up focus sessions is to open the Start menu and type Focus to bring up the application’s menu. You can set how long you want a focus session to last, whether you want do not disturb mode to turn on and what notifications will break into your focus session. You might turn off notifications from distracting social meda apps and your web browser when doing deep work, for example, or have an R&R focus session that ignores all your work-related notifications so you can focus on gaming or watching something.

I really love using this feature to stay productive when working from home, and I can't believe more people don't know about this super-useful feature buried in Windows 11.

Shake to minimize

One of my favorite hidden features of Windows 11 gives you a faster, funnier way to minimize windows so you can focus on the one you care about. It's a silly, easy way to close distractions when you're working: you just grab the window you want to focus on by the title bar and shake it around a bit.

I say it's hidden because it's not enabled by default and you'd never know it existed if you didn't know to look for it. So I'm telling you how to find it: navigate to Settings -> System -> Multitasking and click the radio button to toggle Title bar windows shake on.

Once that's done you should be able to grab your window of choice and shake to close everything else. However, don't close that Multitasking menu just yet — there are settings in there which affect the little-known Windows 11 feature I'm going to tell you about next.

Clipboard history

This feature isn't unique to Windows 11 since it's also on Windows 10 as well as macOS, but for some reason it's often disabled by default. I'm talking of course about clipboard history, which when enabled allows you to view a list of things you've copied to your clipboard.

This is super useful for me because I work with text and images for a living, so I'm regularly copying and pasting sentences, strings of passwords and images between apps. By default we all tend to assume you can only copy and paste one thing at a time, and when you copy something new it removes the last thing you copied from the clipboard.

But Windows 11 can remember, and if you turn on clipboard history you'll be able to copy and paste multiple things and then open the clipboard history to access and re-copy multiple things. It's super useful and easy to use once you know how.

The first step is to enable clipboard history by navigating to Settings > System > Clipboard. From that menu make sure the radio button next to Clipboard History is set to on.

Once you've turned clipboard history on, you can view your clipboard history by hitting Windows key + K. This will pop up a small window with multiple tabs, one of which lets you view recent things you copied to the clipboard.

But there's extra fun features built into the clipboard history menu if you explore the tabs at the top. One lets you copy and paste special characters and punctuation quickly, another lets you copy and paste GIFs and another lists emoji you can use. It's a super useful little feature that's hidden in Windows 11, and I wish more people knew about it!

Dynamic lock

Windows 11 has a built-in feature that lets it intelligently lock your PC when you walk away, but it's hidden away in a submenu by default. Here's how to turn it on for more peace of mind when you need to leave your PC unattended in a public space.

While you can automatically lock your Windows 11 PC with the Windows key + L keyboard shortcut, you can also set up your PC to do it automatically based on either your phone's movements or (if supported) sensing cameras built into your PC.

To turn on dynamic lock, navigate to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options and make sure the dynamic lock feature is enabled.

However, it won't do much unless you have a means by which Windows can tell when you walk away. Many modern laptops from the likes of Lenovo and HP, for example, come with IR cameras and software you can use to have your laptop intelligently lock itself when it detects you've walked away.

If you don't have something like that on your PC, you'll want to connect your phone to your PC using the Microsoft Phone Link app. Once you do have your phone connected (I have my Motorola Razr 2025 paired in the screenshot above) you should see it appaer in the dynamic lock section and you're good to go!

Control your PC with your voice

There are some awfully robust voice command and control systems built into Windows 11, but you have to know they exist and how to access them before you can ever make use of them.

I've been using these tools for years, and I wish more people knew about them because they aren't just accessibility aids for folks who have trouble controlling PCs with their hands—they're also productivity enhancers and ergonomic creation tools that make it easier to write and control your PC with just your voice.

First, you need to know about voice typing in Windows 11. To enable it, simply hit the Windows key + H shortcut to pop open a small window with a microphone button. Hit the mic and start talking; Windows will automatically transcribe your words to text and write them in whatever text box you have selected on-screen.

The other, more powerful voice command feature is called Voice Assist, and it lets you not just type with your voice but actually move your mouse around on the desktop, so you can point and click (sort of) with voice commands.

To turn on voice assist, navigate to Settings > Accessibility > Voice and make sure the Voice access feature is turned on. You will likely need to wait for the PC to download some additional data to make this work, and then you'll be able to summon or dismiss the voice access menu by hitting Windows key + Ctrl + S.

I love voice assist because you can open and close programs, transcribe text and click on things with commands like "left click", "go back" and "open [app]". Personally I love it because I have RSI and it lets me give my hands a break in long work sessions, but it's also useful if you like to walk around your office while dictating a memo or if you want to control a PC from across the room.

Admittedly, while Windows 11 voice access is the most useful voice control tool I've ever used it can be frustrating and tricky to master. Sometimes commands aren't recognized and editing text can be especially tricky (try telling a PC to fix a comma splice, I dare you), but overall I think it's a great feature that's worth using—and I wish more people knew about it!

Have any favorite Windows 11 tips of your own? Let us know in the comments!

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Even the best Windows laptops can struggle to keep up with the demands of AI features, apps and more, but fortunately, you can try out this overlooked Windows 11 performance hack to speed your PC up.

Put simply, there may be some apps that simply take up too many resources, even though they don't need to, but Windows 11's Efficiency Mode can provide a helping hand by limiting CPU usage and how much RAM is used in certain apps.

Now, it's also been known to cause some issues for PCs, especially when enabling it on browsers. However, for other apps that are on in the background that sap too much usage, it's worth turning this feature on.

In a time when RAM is precious, it's best to make the most of the memory you have on your PC without having to spend a huge chunk of change on more. That's why it's important to free up RAM fast, and there are plenty of ways to do so. For now, if you're looking to instantly boost your PC's responsiveness, try out this Windows 11 trick.

Reduce the load on your CPU

Windows 11's Efficiency mode has been shown to improve the responsiveness of systems by up to 76%, especially on apps that are working far too hard in the background. If you find that there's an app taking too much CPU usage, simply follow the steps below:

In Task Manager ("Ctrl + Shift + Esc"), click on the "Processes" tab and select the app you want to put a limit on. Simply right-click the app and select "Efficiency mode."

There you have it. It aims to save battery life and make your PC more responsive, but it's also known to cause some issues for PCs. See if it works for you, and if it doesn't, just turn off Efficiency Mode on the app you selected.

Plus, since any open application consumes memory, you can always free up RAM usage by simply closing any apps, programs or windows you're not using. However, if you plan to keep them running in the background, it's worth giving this feature a try.

Of course, there are other ways to speed up any sluggish Windows 11 PC, whether it be a laptop or desktop. If you're in need of even more ways to make the most out of your PC, we've got just the tricks.

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It's been nearly thiry years since Microsoft Office 97 hit store shelves, and there are still secrets tucked inside waiting to be uncovered.

One software enthusiast discovered just such a secret this week while messing around with Office 97, and it's a great reminder that even the most basic productivity software is (for now) made by human beings.

Plus, Clippy makes a cameo!

The news broke on X Sunday, when user @Albacore published a brief video clip demonstrating how to unlock a hidden developer credits sequence in Microsoft Office 97. The trick appears to be moving a window into a series of specific positions around the screen, then typing a specific command to the Microsoft Office Assistant (aka Clippit or Clippy): "This is not a contest."

At that point a new window appears and a colorful credits sequence plays out for about three minutes, replete with rainbow animated text and other hallmarks of the 20th century.

But what really makes this a fun little surprise is that someone wrote commentary for Clippy that plays out during the credits sequence. So not only do you get a chance ot see which humans actually made Clippy, you get to hear Clippy's feelings about them.

Sure, it's cheesy, but it's also kind of sweet. There's basically no chance anyone would ever stumble on this secret by accident, so you know that whoever worked on this was designing it specifically for their colleagues.

It almost feels intimate, like a secret clubhouse you stumbled into by accident. And while Clippy is perfectly polite and doesn't share any juicy 30-year-old office drama, his running commentary makes the credits sequence feel somehow more human. Honestly, I wish we'd see more creators of software, games and movies add more personality and commentary to the credits in their work as well.

Folks are still poking at Office 97 and other classic software to find more secrets, too, so this may not be the final Easter egg Clippy is hiding!

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Microsoft has had a shaky year with its Windows operating system, ending support for Windows 10 and releasing Windows 11 25H2 with minimal updates. Now, one of its features has been spotted gradually taking up system memory — and it's slowing down PCs.

As shown by user Niff_Naff on Reddit, a Windows 11 feature known as Delivery Optimization is hogging a lot of RAM over time, pointing to a possible memory leak that needs to be fixed. As the service works in the background, it appears to take up a significant amount of memory compared to other features, even when it doesn't need to.

For those who aren't familiar, Delivery Optimization in Windows 11 is a peer-to-peer (P2P) content delivery system that helps your PC download Windows updates, Microsoft Store apps and upgrades faster. It does this by sharing parts of downloaded packages with other devices on a local network or over the internet, reducing bandwidth consumption and the load on Microsoft's servers.

The Reddit user tracked the feature's memory usage over time, and as you can see in the test below, Delivery Optimization starts to spike over the course of a few hours. Apparently, it sometimes even took up 20GB of memory.

What doesn't help is that Microsoft has this feature on by default on most Windows 11 PCs. And after a system update for Windows 11 25H2 and 24H2 (KB5072033), it appears a AppX Deployment Service (Appxsvc) is now automatically turned on at startup, and it's been known to drain CPU, memory and disk usage, as noted by Neowin.

There's already enough memory usage being taken up by Windows' system resources, and if you're experiencing a slow PC, it may be worth fixing the issue to free up RAM on your PC. Fortunately, it's easy enough to solve.

How to fix Windows 11 Delivery Optimization

If the Delivery Optimization service on Windows 11 is the culprit in slowing down your PC and taking up way too much system memory, then you can simply switch it off to relieve the pressure.

It's safe to disable, but be aware that it will lead to slower downloads for updates and apps. Follow the steps below to turn it off.

And that's it. Windows is known to have many services that can drain memory on your PC, so if you're looking to free up more space, check out these tips on how to free up RAM fast. Hopefully, this isn't a widespread issue, and Microsoft resolves the problem with its Delivery Optimization feature fast if it persists.

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Microsoft may have been developing operating systems for decades, yet the Redmond colossus still hasn’t cooked up an OS that feels great to game on. 20 years ago, the House That Bill Built conquered the console market with the Xbox 360. Despite that short-lived spell of class-leading success, booting your favourite titles on one of the best gaming PCs through Windows often remains a chore two decades on.

Full disclosure: I initially didn't mean to go on an anti-Windows 11 rant, as I wanted to delve deep into my impressions of the Xbox Full Screen Experience (FSE) — Microsoft's answer to finally fixing playing games on Windows. Alas, such is the pain of downloading new updates on Microsoft’s latest OS; a night of failed testing misery quickly put paid to that idea.

First launched on the ROG Xbox Ally X and ROG Xbox Ally last month, Xbox FSE quietly rolled out on all Windows-based handhelds on November 21. A few days later, it was then made available on rigs and the best gaming laptops, provided you’re a Windows Insider member.

Tom’s Guide Jason England described Xbox FSE as a “stellar UI to navigate." I’m guessing this is partly because it reduces Windows 11’s overall background power and performance overheads to allow for more responsive interactions with launchers like Steam and the Epic Games Store. I’ll just have to take Jason’s word for it, because try as I might, I can’t get the damn thing to work.

Most of the time, I don’t have many issues updating Windows 11. Sadly, this was not the case when trying to download the snappily titled “Windows 11 Insider Preview Feature Update (26220.7271).” The latest Insider build is required to test drive Xbox FSE ahead of its full launch on Windows PCs, laptops and tablets, and oh boy, is it a pain to get working.

Despite being hooked up to a 1GB full-fibre optic connection, both my gaming PC and Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2025) took a veritable Ice Age to download the update. I’m pretty sure I could have skimmed "War and Peace" in the time it took to install on my two main gaming devices. When it comes to downloading apps or games from the Windows Store or key updates via the settings menu, Windows 11 is about as swift as a heavily sedated sloth.

After multiple restarts, Xbox FSE kept refusing to play ball. The three main methods of switching to this UI involve either hitting the Windows + Tab keys, Windows + F11 or by accessing it through the Windows 11 Game Bar overlay. And to my complete lack of surprise, not one of these shortcuts worked for me.

Part of the problem was that I was accessing the update through Windows Insider’s dev channel — an enthusiast-level tier that Microsoft freely admits has “some rough edges and low stability” — so I can partly accept the early FSE teething pains. The trouble is, I’ve been using Windows 11 for years now, and there are almost always rough edges in day-to-day usage.

Win-d’oh!

Even if you’re lucky enough to have built the coolest gaming PC ever that houses an RTX 5090, top-tier hardware can’t entirely solve Windows gaming woes. I’ve been using Microsoft’s operating systems since the dreaded days of Windows Vista, so I’m dealing with a shedload of OS-based PTSD. I’d wager that over that time period, I’ve endured hundreds of random crashes and infuriating instances of the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD).

It’s not just that gaming on a Windows system often feels about as stable as driving an 18-wheeler across quicksand. Instability issues and constant grating updates are things you’re eventually forced to get used to if you want to play the best PC games at frame rates far higher than even the PS5 Pro can manage.

Regardless of how many updates Microsoft drops, though, Windows 11 still delivers a somewhat cluttered UI, especially when you dive into its menus. The Windows Store is a hideous beast blighted by slow downloads. I constantly find Copilot repeatedly sneaking back into my taskbar, no matter how many times I uninstall it, while HDR on many PC games feels borked compared to how PS5 and Xbox Series X handle High Dynamic Range content.

That last annoyance really grinds my gears. Despite owning one of the best gaming monitors — the glorious Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 — blacks often don’t look inky enough on my display. This is an even more glaring issue for older games that need to rely on Windows Auto HDR; a feature that still doesn’t look right years after release. To this day, I constantly find myself in the Nvidia Control Panel tediously tweaking brightness and contrast sliders to fix black levels in titles.

Unreliable Windows HDR implementation is also an issue on my beautiful ROG Zephyrus G14. It’s only by using the excellent fan-made NvTrueHDR software that I can get my favorite Steam games looking their best on its sensational OLED screen. I really hope Microsoft improves its subpar HDR features before Windows 12 inevitably launches.

No matter what improvements Microsoft makes to Windows — and make no mistake, I think 11 is a much better OS than Windows 10 — the software giant keeps scoring needless own goals. Just look at the recent (KB5066835) system update, a patch so disastrous for gaming performance, it pretty much halves frame rates in Assassin’s Creed Shadows (thanks, Digital Foundry). Granted, Nvidia swiftly released an emergency patch to remedy this issue for owners of Team Green GPUs, but it’s still an embarrassing misstep for Microsoft.

Letting off SteamOS

If Windows were my spouse, I’d be getting ready to file divorce papers. A newly single me would then try to slap a ring on a Linux system’s imaginary finger. Let me explain.

Due to its efficiency and winning compatibility features, I’ve really come to appreciate Linux as an operating system since picking up the fantastic Steam Deck OLED a couple of years ago. That’s mainly due to the effortlessly excellent SteamOS — hands-down my favorite UI on any current gaming platform.

I can count on one hand how many times I’ve had genuine issues with this Linux-based operating system. It’s responsive, it’s stable, it’s not dragged down by bloatware and it gets you into the heart of the action of your favorite games with the minimal amount of fuss. SteamOS is the main reason why I’d always choose Valve’s handheld PC over more powerful Windows-based alternatives.

It’s this love for Linux’s portable operating system that has got me so jazzed for the upcoming Steam Machine. As a bit of a hardware snob, Valve’s new mini PC should leave me cold on paper. Though its Gamecube-style aesthetics make me want to cuddle Gabe Newell and company’s teeny device, its specs are a little lacking. It may be 6x more powerful than the Steam Deck, but a GPU with just 8GB of VRAM means it's going to struggle to run demanding triple-A games at 60 FPS going forward.

And yet, I’m still totally into the concept of the Steam Machine. As much as I adore my mid-tower gaming PC, it’s a pain to use in my living room. That’s mainly because it houses an RTX 5090 that’s longer than an Xbox Series X… oh, and the small fact that it weighs well over 50 lbs. On the occasions I do carry it from my home office into my lounge, I can practically feel my knees shatter every time I have to lug the beast around my apartment. So long cartilage, it was nice knowing you.

GabeCube

The Steam Machine obviously won’t be able to run Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty at 4K/120 FPS with full path tracing enabled like my chunky rig is capable of. Yet it should be great at delivering 4K/60 FPS experiences in slightly older titles by utilising AMD’s frame-boosting FSR upscaling tech. As such, some of the best Steam games should hopefully be able to hand in performance that’s closer to PS5 than the Nintendo Switch 2.

I’ve been a huge fan of Steam’s Big Picture mode for years. While it’s not flawless, Valve’s TV-friendly UI makes navigating through your Steam library on a controller a relative breeze. SteamOS on the Steam Machine is set to deliver a comparably intuitive experience for fans of the best PC game controllers, and the mini PC’s UI should play especially nicely with the upcoming Steam Controller.

Jumping between numerous games on my embarrassingly large Steam library is a doddle thanks to the Linus-based SteamOS. Give me the option of having that fantastic UI on a box you can hold in your hands rather than a Windows PC that flirts with giving me a hernia every time I pick it up, and it’s no wonder my spine wants me to buy a Steam Machine.

If nothing else, playing games in hassle-free fashion on a purpose-built Linux OS is going to be a lot more pleasurable than maddeningly messing around with Windows Insider settings. Now, let’s just hope Valve can ship the Steam Machine for less than the price of a PS5 Pro.

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Windows turns 40 this week, and we're celebrating the big 4-0 with a look back at how everyone's favorite operating system has succeeded (and failed) over the years.

Microsoft officially launched the inaugural version of Windows on November 20, 1985, just a few months after I was born. The company had already been in business for a decade selling BASIC interpreters for the Altair 8800 (which is why we celebrated Microsoft turning 50 back in April), but it was Windows that made the company the tech titan it is today.

These days it can be hard to remember the early years when Microsoft was a scrappy company fighting for market share and Windows was exciting and new, but they happened. And now that the company has brought us into the Windows 11 era, I think it's a good idea to look at how we got here.

With that in mind we thought it might be fun to quickly look back at the highs (and lows) of Windows' 40-year career. Scroll down to see how many you remember, and share your favorites in the comments below!

20. Windows 1.0

I won't be stricly chronological in this list of the highs and lows of Windows' 40-year run, but how could I not start with where it all began?

In the fall of 1985 Microsoft released Windows 1.0, the original version of the operating system so many of us still use decades later.

It's hard to appreciate now, but at the time a graphical operating system like Windows was pretty novel. Until the early '80s you typically interacted with a PC by working from a command line, but Apple changed the game with first the Lisa and then the Macintosh personal computer.

But while Apple is arguably the pioneer of GUIs in operating systems, the fact that the Lisa cost roughly $10,000 to own when it launched in 1983 kept it out of the hands of most people. Microsoft, meanwhile, saw where the market was heading and put together its own $99 GUI-based operating system: Windows 1.0.

The first version of Windows effectively added an intuitive window-based system for moving and interacting with files on top of MS-DOS, making PCs much easier for newbies to access and kickstarting the era of personal computing.

Microsoft went on to support Windows 1 until 2001, making it the longest-supported version of Windows in history. You can take a peek at it for yourself if you head over to the PCjs Project, where you can run an emulated version of Windows 1 (and many others) in your browser.

19. Comic Sans

Microsoft is responsible for a fair few fonts, but for my money none have done more damage to my psyche personally than Comic Sans MS.

Look, I love a funny sign as much as the next guy. But when ex-Microsoft staffer Vincent Connare designed Comic Sans in 1994 I truly don't think he understood what he was about to unleash.

The font debuted in the same Microsoft Plus! for Windows 95 add-on pack that brought us 3D Pinball for Windows - Space Cadet, which gives you a sense of how momentous those old Windows update packs were. Worse, you had to pay $49 for the pack, so the first people to use Comic Sans were paying for the privilege.

18. Windows 3.1

I dunno about you, but Windows 3.1 was my first operating system (if you don't count the Apple IIs in the back of my classroom) and I still have a soft spot for it in my heart.

Isn't it funny that we all remember Windows 3.1, and not Windows 3.0 (much less Windows 2.0)? Personally I think that's because Windows 3.1 bundled a bunch of 3.0 improvements together into one software package that was then sold widely on the back of Windows 3.0's commercial success.

So if you, like me, were a kid in the '90s you were very likely to run into Windows 3.1 somewhere and very likely to remember it because 3.1 popularized features like the Windows screensaver, the Windows Media Player and the Sound Recorder.

But for me, what I remember best about Windows 3.1 were Minesweeper and Solitaire. These games were introduced to Windows with 3.1, and they've been mainstays ever since.

17. Game for Windows Live

Hoo boy, remember Games for Windows Live? Because I remember it as a huge disappointment and one of the most memorable ways in which Microsoft squandered the advantage it has by owning the operating system which nearly every diehard PC game fan uses to play games.

And when you consider that Microsoft also owns the Xbox platform and helped lead the industry in online gaming with the Xbox 360, it's especially aggravating that the company fumbled Games for Windows so hard. I was there when Microsoft launched it in 2007 as Windows' answer to the Xbox Live service, and while it was neat to be able to log into your Xbox Live account on your Windows PC it rarely brought much benefit.

Sure, in some Windows Live games (like Fallout 3) you could log in with your Xbox account, then use console commands to cheat your way to getting all the game's achievements (and the accompanying 1,000 Gamerscore points) in seconds. But in many games, GFWL felt like an unnecessary addition that was a hassle to deal with and an annoyance when Microsoft finally stopped supporting it.

Of course, it took the company ages to admit that it was no longer doing anything with the service and longer still to officially wind it down. But by 2018 you could no longer buy games on the Games for Windows Live Marketplace, and by 2022 it was completely dead.

16. DirectX

Since I'm talking about Windows' impact on PC gaming, we gotta give a shoutout to Microsoft DirectX.

You might not know what DirectX is, but if you've ever played a game on a Windows PC you've probably benefited from this package of application programming interfaces (APIs) that help developers build games for Windows.

DirectX debuted in 1995 for Windows 95 and continues to be heavily used today, with the latest version (DirectX 12 Ultimate) featuring updates geared for Windows 11.

But more people probably interact with this technology via their Xbox game consoles, which actually take their name from DirectX—the original console prototype was known as the "DirectX Box" and it's a simple enough jump from that to just Xbox.

15. Microsoft Teams

Look, Microsoft Teams is fine. It's fine!

Heck, if you use it regularly you probably know it better than I do and you might even think it's better than fine. Microsoft Teams has certainly improved since it launched back in 2017, and nowadays it's a bona fide competitor to the likes of Google Meet, Slack and Zoom.

But I really think you need to be working in a company that relies on Microsoft's tech stack for Microsoft Teams to actually be worth using. If you aren't regularly messaging colleagues about PowerPoints and sharing Word docs in meetings, there's really no reason to use Teams—and it becomes an irritation since it's automatically installed with Windows 11.

Often this means it's just an annoying drain on system resources that can be easily removed from your PC with a few minutes' work, but if you (like me) set up Windows PCs fairly regularly removing Teams can become a serious annoyance.

Plus, now that handheld gaming PCs are a thing Teams is irritating a whole new group of people. Can you imagine buying a new ROG Xbox Ally handheld and realizing that Microsoft Teams is sitting on the taskbar of the Windows 11 desktop on your tiny 7-inch screen?

So while Microsoft Teams has generally been a pretty good collaborative tool, the fact that Microsoft installs it automatically with Windows and forces you to disable and remove it yourself renders it more of a hindrance than a help for most of us.

Yet even so, Teams is notable because it represents Microsoft's ability to sell Windows as a business platform. When your company buys into Microsoft 365's product suite Teams becomes a lot more useful, and that value is going to be key (I think) to Microsoft's long-term viability as a business. Because the company has always tried to dominate the business and enterprise software markets, and Teams is the leading edge of a productivity suite that aims to rival the best that Salesforce, Zoom and others can bring to market.

14. Minesweeper

Is any game more associated with Windows than Minesweeper?

Well, maybe—lots of people (my Mom included) have spent countless hours clicking through Windows Solitaire, while 3D Pinball was so popular and so tied to Windows that I give it a shoutout elsewhere in this list.

But for me, it's Minesweeper that was the high point of Windows gaming back in the '90s. That's because I was a kid back then who couldn't afford to buy his own games, so I was stuck playing whatever I could find on whatever screens I could access.

And for lots of us '90s kids the school library or computer lab often had a few ancient PCs that held cornucopias of weird old games on their hard drives. And while I had lots of fun playing games like Lunar Lander and The Oregon Trail on ancient computers, anytime I found a Windows machine I could access you better believe 8-year-old me was firing up a new game of Minesweeper.

The game itself launched in 1990 as part of the Windows Entertainment Pack, but by 1992 it was coming pre-installed on every copy of Windows 3.1. That's how I and a legion of other fans found it, cementing its place as one of the most recognizable games in Windows' history.

13. Copilot key

Here in 2025 there have been rumblings that Microsoft has aspirations to make Windows an AI-based operating system, with AI "agents" that will work to try and anticipate and accommodate your needs on their own.

If that ever comes to pass, we'll probably trace the beginnings of the "agentic" Windows back to Microsoft Copilot, the first assistant to be injected into Windows since the ill-fated launch of Cortana back in 2014.

While Windows Copilot rolled out in 2023, Microsoft waited until early 2024 to announce plans to start shipping Windows keyboards with a new "Copilot key" alongside the spacebar. Many keyboard manufacturers followed Microsoft's lead, and nowadays it's a toss-up as to whether your new Windows PC or laptop will come with a Copilot-branded key.

Hit that key, of course, and you (usually) summon the Copilot AI assistant. And while I thought this was potentially a neat idea at launch, now that I've spent a few years trying to use Copilot effectively I think the Copilot key was a bad idea and an overblown marketing move. Microsoft should have kept it a simple keyboard shortcut (like Windows + C) until Copilot was legitimately a must-have feature that a majority of Windows owners regularly use, but instead they put a logo on one of your keys that may as well say "never press me."

12. Windows 95

I don't know about you, but I loved Windows 95. I was maybe ten years old when it shipped in the summer of 1995, and back then the arrival of the Start button was a revelation.

It's hard to remember now, but there was a time when Windows didn't have a taskbar, a Start button or any desktop shortcuts. These innovations were all popularized by Windows 95, and if they were a bit too reminiscent of Apple's macOS, well, that controversy was put to bed in '97 when Microsoft bailed Apple out of financial trouble.

Love it or hate it, Windows 95 set the tone for the 30 years of Windows to come. Microsoft may move the taskbar and Start menu around a bit, but it has yet to surpass the fundamental design elements it established 30 years ago.

11. Windows Vista

Microsoft dropped Vista on us in 2007 as the sequel to Windows XP, and it didn't go as well as the company hoped.

Sure, Vista introduced some useful upgrades over XP, including DirectX 10, Windows Speech Recognition and that glassy-looking Aero design language. Heck, I really liked the look of it after XP.

But the cost for many early adopters was worse game performance than XP along with a metric ton of annoying notifications from the then-new User Account Control security feature.

Microsoft eventually fixed some of the flaws in Vista by releasing Windows Vista Service Pack 1 a year later, but even that rollout was plagued by technical issues.

10. Clippy

Clippy is a good thing...right?

Right?!

I'm still on the fence as to whether I like him or not, but I can't argue with the cultural staying power of this anthropomorphic paperclip.

We first met Clippy back in 1997 as Clippet, the animated assistant for Microsoft Office. The little paperclip was one of many assistants you could enable when using Microsoft Office products, but he proved to be the one that most people grew to love to hate for constantly nagging you with suggestions like "it looks like you're writing a letter. Would you like help?"

People grew so fond of hating on Clippit/Clippy that four years later Microsoft integrated the death of Clippy into its marketing for Office XP 2001. The company made a point of saying its new productivity software was so easy to use you wouldn't need to be bothered by Clippy, and the character faded into the realm of myth and memes.

Fast forward to today though and Microsoft continues to bring Clippy back to promote its other services. A few years ago a Clippy sticker pack was added to Microsoft Teams, and Microsoft released a commemorative wallpaper (above) featuring Clippy.

I imagine the next time we see Clippy it will be powered by some sort of AI assistant, but we'll see!

9. Microsoft Edge

I don't actually have a problem with the performance of Microsoft Edge. I think it's a completely serviceable web browser, and Microsoft makes it pretty easy to bring your bookmarks and other data into Edge from Google Chrome and other browsers.

No, I have a problem with how desperate and needy Microsoft is willing to appear in order to try and keep people from downloading other browsers—and specifically Chrome.

If you haven't noticed this, try downloading a copy of Chrome using Edge. I do this regularly when setting up a new laptop or desktop here at Tom's Guide, and every time I'm forced to close at least one nagging notification from Edge begging me not to stop using it. Not only do these nagging messages not keep me using Edge, they actively push me away from the browser because its developers waste time coding nagging pop-ups into it instead of working to improve the actual product.

8. Windows 8

When Windows 8 debuted in 2012 Microsoft touted it as the most touch-friendly Windows yet and honestly, it was—but so few of us enjoyed touching it that it was hard to feel excited about using Windows during this dark period.

Of course Windows 8 brought us a lot of new things we now think of as integral to the operating system, including the Microsoft Defender antivirus, OneDrive (then branded SkyDrive) and a Microsoft Store full of Windows apps.

But they were a lot less useful back then, and Microsoft reportedly sold far fewer Windows 8 licenses at launch than it expected. The company tried to make amends by releasing Windows 8.1 a year later with some much-needed improvements (including new options to customize the Start menu, which I hated), but it wasn't enough to redeem this disappointing OS.

7. Windows Hello

If you're not familiar, Windows Hello is Microsoft's branding for the suite of biometric authentication features built into Windows. And while I totally understand if you're not a fan of Microsoft logging your fingerprint or a scan of your face, I can't pretend it hasn't been a game-changer for Windows users.

I know because I've been using Windows PCs for over thirty years, and I've been reviewing them professionally for over a decade. And while I regularly disable Windows Hello when reviewing laptops for convenience reasons, for machines I own, I value the option to be able to log in with just a look or a finger press.

6. Windows prioritizing "Developers! Developers! Developers!"

One-time Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer went viral ages ago for a particularly loud and sweaty presentation during which he strode back and forth across the stage selling the crowd on how important third-party software developers are to the success of Windows.

This can be hard to remember these days, but once upon a time Microsoft was a lot more gung-ho about encouraging you to buy, download and install software from all sorts of people. And while on the business side Microsoft was busy buying out and eradicating the competition while making deals to get Windows bundled on all sorts of hardware, on the marketing side we were being sold on the viability, versatility and freedom of choice that Windows gives you.

Ballmer was well-known for his passion and energy on the job, and a cursory Google search will turn up at least a few videos of him strutting, bouncing and shouting during company presentations. But the "developers! developers! developers!" speech (a clip of which, captured during a 1999 NET Conference. is embedded above) screaming about the importance of third-party developers remains one of the top Windows-related clips that people share the most, over 25 years later.

5. Internet Explorer

Let's stop talking about Edge and take a moment to remember what it replaced: Internet Explorer, aka the web browser that shipped with Windows for nearly 30 years.

It's hard to remember now, but if you were a kid in the '90s the Internet Explorer window was like a gateway to worlds you'd never seen before. I was there and it felt like if you opened a web browser, you could find all sorts of novel and interesting things—you just had to know where to look.

It also felt like Internet Explorer was everywhere, too, which makes sense since Microsoft edged out Netscape in the browser market by making Internet Explorer the de facto browser that came with Windows. The rest is history, and nowadays so is Internet Explorer—Microsoft ended support for it in 2022 in favor of its new browser, Microsoft Edge.

4. Windows RT

Windows RT was originally named Windows on Arm, for good reason: it was a simplified version of Windows 8 designed to run on Arm-based chipsets.

Microsoft launched it in 2012 alongside Windows 8, and the original Surface was such a prominent flagship for the OS that we all started calling it the Surface RT. The problem is, Windows RT came with a lot of limitations that made it ideal for putting on a kid's tablet but terrible for a power user.

The UEFI Secure Boot safeguard was permanently enabled in Windows RT, for example, which makes it impossible to install other operating systems on the device. And the OS initially did not ship with support for Microsoft Outlook, though that was fixed with an update a year later.

But the biggest failure of Windows RT was that it was limited to Arm-based devices at a time when anyone shopping for a portable PC could pretty easily find a more capable Intel-based device for the same price—and those devices could run a full version of Windows 8.

Of course, these days Windows 11 not only runs on Arm, it runs great, helping the best Windows laptops enjoy the battery-sipping benefits of an Arm-based Snapdragon chipset while still taking full advantage of Windows' features. But to get here, we had to go through the dark days of Windows RT.

3. 3D Pinball

If you were using Windows 95 back in the day you might remember the Microsoft Plus! pack, a $49 add-on pack for Windows 95 that came with new software and utilities, new features for Windows (like themes!) and, most importantly, a specially licensed version of the Space Cadet digital pinball table from Cinematronics' Full Tilt! Pinball.

Technically Full Tilt! Pinball included 3 different pinball tables, but you could be forgiven for not knowing that because so many of us only ever played this game as "3D Pinball for Windows - Space Cadet", so we only ever played the Space Cadet table.

And you know what, it was great! Here at Tom's Guide some of us immediately remembered "3D Pinball for Windows" with remarkable fondness, so imagine my surprise when I did some digging and found that not only did Full Tilt include the Space Cadet table, it also offered Dragon's Keep and Skulduggery tables!

These games are no longer easily available to purchase, but with some digging you can find free recreations online or on mobile app stores if you want to indulge in a bit of nostalgic fun.

2. Windows Phone

I know this won't be a big deal for everyone, but I had high hopes for Windows on phones and now that I've hopped between Android and iOS for ages I mourn what we lost when Microsoft tried (and failed) to make Windows Phones a thing.

Microsoft's most notable mobile verison of Windows launched in 2010 as Windows Phone 7, and it brought the colorful tile-centric Metro design language to phones from the likes of HTC and LG.

There were some real issues and limitations with the OS, but Microsoft worked hard to improve it and managed to launch Windows Phone 8 and Windows Phone 10 on all sorts of phones, most notably Nokia's Lumia line (though there were also outliers like the Acer Liquid Jade Primo).

The partnership was apparently so critical that Microsoft bought Nokia's mobile phone business in 2013 for over $7 billion. But by 2017 the company had given up on Windows Phones and effectively ate those billions with no meaningful mobile business to show for it.

And now that Windows 11 is more touch-friendly than ever and we're seeing Microsoft working on a more navigable Xbox interface for handheld gaming PCs, I can't help but pine for what might have been had Windows Phones been given the shot they deserved.

1. United States v. Microsoft Corp antitrust ruling

I'm a '90s kid from the States, so when I was growing up I heard a lot about former (then current) U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno. And one of the big things that happened during her tenure kicked off in 1993, when the U.S. Department of Justice began investigating Microsoft for alleged antitrust violations.

The central complaint ties back to an earlier entry in this list: Internet Explorer was included with every copy of Windows sold, and that caused it to gain a large userbase very quickly and dominate competitors like Netscape Navigator.

When the case went to trial in 1998, the prosecution argued that Microsoft had effectively set up a monopoly by giving away a free copy of Internet Explorer with every copy of Windows. Microsoft argued that Internet Explorer was a feature of Windows rather than a separate program, but by 1999 the presiding judge ruled that Microsoft had effectively created a monopoly (illegal under the Sherman Antitrust Act) and by 2000 the Court was calling for the company to be broken up into separate units.

That never happened, of course, because Microsoft mounted a successful appeal and managed to assuage the court by paying settlement fees and making some key changes to its software and business practices.

Even if you don't remember this case you've probably heard about it or seen its impact, because it was a landmark antitrust ruling that continues to be cited in court cases even as the impact on Microsoft continues to influence the tech industry.

More from Tom's Guide

• These hidden Windows settings cut my boot time in half — and they're already on your PC
• 7 Windows 11 apps I install first on every laptop and desktop PC I review
• Windows 10 just hit end of life — here's how to get a year of security updates for free

Microsoft has not officially announced Windows 12, but it’s a safe bet we’ll eventually see a successor to Windows 11. Rumors once suggested we’d see the operating system in late 2024, but with 2026 only a few weeks away, it’s now anyone’s guess when Windows 12 will materialize. That being the case, we can only speculate on what features Microsoft’s operating system could offer.

Windows 11 has received many improvements since it launched in 2021, but it’s still far from perfect. Optimizing Windows to suit your specific needs isn’t easy (or possible), and Copilot still isn’t as integrated into the OS as we’d like. And while Windows 11 generally runs well, its various background processes can cause one’s computer to run slower than expected.

As we wait for any announcement about Windows 12, I'm left to wonder how the operating system can improve on Windows 11. To that end, here are 5 upgrades I want to see in Windows 12 when it arrives.

Modular OS

Windows 11 can run on various devices, such as the best laptops and best computers. While it works well enough on those platforms, the same isn’t true for devices with different form factors, such as the best tablets and best handheld gaming consoles. The idea of a modular “Windows Core OS” isn’t new, but it would be great to see this concept in Windows 12.

For example, imagine a more tablet-friendly version of Windows for Microsoft’s own Surface Pro 2-in-1 devices. Imagine the ability to ditch or modify the taskbar to be better suited for touch controls. For gaming handhelds, being able to disable unnecessary background processes would improve performance, as the leaner version of Windows on the ROG Xbox Ally has proven.

Windows is more customizable than macOS, but it can still feel too restrictive. A more modular Windows 12 could be a huge game-changer for Microsoft’s operating system.

Better Copilot integration

Microsoft has boasted about its Copilot AI for a couple of years now. While it initially seemed promising, the AI assistant hasn’t exactly lived up to its potential. Sure, it’s nice to generate images for free or get quick answers to questions, but Copilot still feels limited.

The main problem is that Copilot still can’t reliably answer technical questions about Windows, or perform basic tasks like changing your power settings or launching programs. Perhaps this is too much to demand from a technology that was grafted onto Windows 11, but that doesn’t mean Copilot can’t have these functions and more in Windows 12, as it would presumably be baked in.

I won’t fault Microsoft too much here since I’ve yet to see an AI assistant from any company that’s truly helpful for everyday tasks. But with Windows 12, perhaps the LLM-powered AI assistant won’t feel like more bloatware.

Useful Widgets

I only ever interact with Widgets whenever I accidentally move the mouse cursor to the far left of the taskbar. For Windows 12, I’d like to see Microsoft provide a Widgets menu that I would actually use.

Like macOS 26, an option to have Widgets directly on the desktop would remind me they’re available. I’d also love the ability to position Widgets however I choose.

While the existing Widgets menu gives you some control over what it displays, it’s far too limited, and can ever be overwhelming. If Microsoft wants to have a dedicated Widget menu, then I want even more control over what it shows me.

Improved Windows Search

I don’t know about you, but I always dread using Windows Search. Most of the time, I end up starting at a Bing search on Microsoft Edge instead of the app or file I was searching for. Search is also far too slow to come up, which only makes things worse.

At the risk of sounding like a macOS fanboy, I wouldn’t mind if Windows Search were more like Spotlight on Mac. I like how you start seeing results as soon as you start typing, not to mention Spotlight’s overall zippiness to open. And if using Search in Windows 12 doesn’t result in opening up Microsoft Edge, that’d be great too.

Proper Android app support

Having the best Android apps on Windows 11 was a big selling point when Microsoft first announced Windows 11. The OS didn’t initially launch with much Android app support, but it eventually arrived, though you were limited to Android apps available through the Amazon App Store. Microsoft would eventually stop supporting Android apps in Windows 11 earlier this year.

Though I personally don’t have much use for Android apps on Windows, I know that many others would. It also makes sense to have Android app support so you can use said apps on devices with touchscreens, like 2-in-1 laptops and handhelds. This would also match macOS’ ability to access the App Store and run iOS and iPadOS apps on Macs.

Outlook

We can’t say for certain when Windows 12 will arrive, or if it will even bear that name. But when the successor to Windows 11 does arrive, we hope it will deliver an operating system that offers significant improvements to make users’ lives easier. For now, all we can do is wait and hope for the best.

More from Tom's Guide

• 15 top Windows 11 tips everyone needs to know
• Windows 10 support officially ends — are you upgrading to Windows 11?
• 5 things I wish I knew about Windows 11 when I upgraded from Windows 10

Whether you're unboxing a new Windows 11 PC or reinstalling Windows 10 on your old laptop, I have some advice on how to streamline the process and get the best (free!) apps installed ASAP.

I wanted to write this for you because I review laptops and desktops for a living here at Tom's Guide, which means I end up going through the first-time setup process for a new Windows 11 PC at least a few times a month.

That used to take me at least 20-30 minutes every time since I had to download all my favorite apps individually, but then I discovered Ninite. Those who know, know, but if you're not familiar Ninite is a super-useful (and free) utility that lets you quickly customize and download a package of all your favorite apps.

It's really easy to use, too—just head over to the Ninite website, pick the apps you want from a big list, then download the custom installer that Ninite generates for you. You can then put that file on a USB stick, plug it into your new PC and run the installer to immediately install all the apps you wanted at once.

Ninite alone is a game-changer when setting up Windows machines, but I have some additional recommendations for apps you should install first on your new PC. All of these apps are free, available on Ninite and on my short list of the most useful apps I install first on every Windows 11 PC I review.

Did I miss your favorite app? Let your fellow readers know in the comments below!

7-Zip

I don't need to compress things as much as I used to now that it's so much easier to share big files online, but I still install 7-Zip on every new PC because it's a good open-source compression tool that comes in handy when you need to move large files.

Even if you don't plan on regularly sharing packages of files online, having 7-Zip installed is smart because sometimes someone sends you a file that basic Windows can't unzip. When that happens, you'll be glad you have 7-Zip on hand ready to roll.

Google Chrome

There are a lot of good web browsers out there, but I've long preferred Google Chrome because it feels fairly fast and reliable, and it supports every website and web service I need to use. Plus, I use Google for work and personal business, so it's convenient to log into my browser with the same accounts.

Admittedly, I'm starting to lose my fondness for the browser now that Google seems to be cramming Chrome full of AI "upgrades" that do more to annoy than assist me. I'm considering switching to Firefox as my browser du jour, and if you have similar reservations you can skip Chrome in favor of something like Firefox, Brave or Opera.

Discord

I was slow to adopt Discord after it launched in 2015, but nowadays it feels like one of my most commonly-used communication tools.

If Slack is for work, Discord is for fun, and I install it on every PC I get my hands on so I can stay in touch with all my disparate friend groups around the world. Plus, Discord's chat room tech is getting good enough that you can use it to stream games, record podcasts or do other fun stuff with friends online, making it a must-have utility for me.

Everything

Everything is a free search utility that works like Windows Search on steroids, and I find it's really handy for quickly finding files or images I need for work.

What's especially useful is the fact that you can run custom searches on your PC using advanced search descriptors, look for specific words or phrases within files and filter by date, file type and the like. If you've ever had a hard time finding something on your hard drive, Everything can be a big help.

Gimp

Everyone has their favorite free image editor, and mine happens to be Gimp. Try to look past the name and you'll find this little utility is surprisingly useful, duplicating many of the features of a more robust editor like Photoshop at a fraction of the price.

It's not great for serious editing work, but for a cretin like me who just needs to resize images and occasionally crop things, this free image editor is a lifesaver.

Steam

Steam has been one of the first apps I install on every new PC for decades, and for good reason: Steam is the place to buy and play the best PC games.

Sure, you can still get PC games in storefronts like the Epic Games Store, but Steam is the biggest and best PC game storefront in the business. I also keep in touch with a few friends on my Steam friends list, so it's nice to have it installed and running on my PC to keep abreast of who's playing what.

VLC

If Windows Media Player can't play an audio or video file, odds are good the VLC media player can handle it. This has been my go-to media player for decades because its simple, easy to use and supports a variety of formats and codecs that otherwise won't play on a freshly unboxed PC.

Bottom line

These are the apps I install on every new Windows PC I unbox without fail, and it never fails to save me at least 15 minutes of downloading and installing apps every time I get my hands on a new Windows machine.

Using Ninite to install them all in one fell swoop has made my life a lot simpler, so I highly recommend you just go that route instead of going to each app's website to individually download them.

Of course, don't feel like you need to stick to what I suggested—Ninite offers a big catalog of free apps to choose from, so feel free to mix and match your favorites to perfectly match your needs!

Update: Microsoft responds with workarounds.

Earlier this week, Microsoft began rolling out a new Windows 11 build, KB5067036 (Build 26200.719 or 26100.7019), which appears to have brought a strange bug to the Task Manager. Most people probably use Task Manager to see if any programs are acting up or using a disproportionate amount of resources.

However, the bug discovered by Windows Latest appears to make the tool clog up memory by duplicating itself and not allowing users to close the window. The issue appears to affect both Windows 24H2 and 25H2 users who install the October preview.

Windows Latest found that the strange bug occurred in 30 of their 100 virtual machines. Each duplicate Task Manager can use between 20 and 25MB of RAM. In one test, 100 instances of the tool were created by the bug, using up 2GB of RAM — a not insignificant number, even on machines with 32GB of RAM.

Most people likely won't notice a significant impact, but if you frequently open the Task Manager during the day or skip reboots, it can add up.

I couldn't recreate the glitch on my Windows 11 laptop, but I'm seeing reports of others able to produce it.

Microsoft response

Tom's Guide reached out to Microsoft about the bug. A company spokesperson sent us to this Windows 11 known issues and notifications page, which was updated today. It describes the multiple instances bug.

"When you reopen Task Manager, the previous instance continues running in the background even though no window is visible. This results in multiple lingering instances of taskmgr.exe, consuming system resources and potentially degrading device performance."

It goes on to provide a couple of workarounds, which we describe below.

There isn't a timeline for how long a fix will take, but Microsoft says one is in the works.

"We are working on a resolution for this issue and will provide more information when it is available," the Microsoft blog reads.

Current solutions

Fortunately, the update is optional, so if you don't already have Windows 11 build, KB5067036 (Build 26200.719 or 26100.7019), I would recommend waiting until Microsoft issues a fix, though, as of this writing, the company has not acknowledged the Task Manager bug.

The October update is a preview and has to be manually initiated or you need to toggle off the "Get the latest updates as soon as they're available" option in the Windows Update Settings.

There appear to be a couple of ways to escape the copy loop. For starters, don't hit the "X" button to close the window.

From there, you can select each individual instance of Task Manager and then manually select "End Task" in the menu bar.

If you are comfortable with command-line fixes, you can run taskkill /im taskmgr.exe /f in Command Prompt, and that should end all Task Manager instances at the same time.

What the October update is supposed to do

KB5067036 dropped on October 28 as an optional update. It's supposed to introduce a redesigned Start Menu and new battery icons on the taskbar. Additionally, recommended files now appear in File Explorer's Home, and some Copilot AI functions have been improved.

It followed shortly after the October 14 security update that broke USB devices in the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). Microsoft had to release an urgent out-of-band (OOB) update to fix the issue, promising that it would be improved upon in further updates.

It hasn't been a great month for Windows 11, as it became the only supported Microsoft operating system following the end of life for Windows 10 earlier this month.

More from Tom's Guide

• 5 things I wish I knew about Windows 11 when I upgraded from Windows 10
• Microsoft issues urgent Windows 10 warning — and 84% of our readers are impacted
• 7 genius Copilot prompts that make Windows 11 instantly more useful

Starting around 9 a.m. Pacific, several Microsoft services simultaneously went down, including the cloud platform Azure, Microsoft 365, Xbox, and more.

Over on the outage tracking site Down Detector, we've seen spikes of close to 10,000 reports on multiple Microsoft platforms. Those spikes have started to dip for Azure, Teams, and 365.

For reasons we haven't been able to determine, the gaming services like Xbox Live and Minecraft stayed affected longer than the more business-oriented Azure services. As of this writing, the Xbox support website is still down.

Initially according to the Microsoft Azure status page, it appears the outage was caused by DNS issues, though they don't specify if it was an attack or something internal. The team there has said that it's attempting to roll back to an older version.

Meanwhile, a number of services like Starbucks.com, Chris Hemsworth's fitness app Centr, and others are among the affected services.

Starting around 1:30 pm Pacific, a deployment of the 'last known good' configuration of Azure was deployed, with the company expecting recovery by 3:20 pm Pacific.

The outage lasted about five hours. Toward the end of the outage, the Azure status page claimed the issues were caused by an "inadvertent configuration change" that triggered the problems.

Unfortunately, at the same time, the Amazon Web Services platform also seemed to be having issues, meaning that a huge chunk of the internet was potentially affected by both of these platforms getting hit.

We tracked both. Keep it here for live updates.

Microsoft outage — live updates

Outage began around 9 am Pacific

We first started seeing reports on Down Detector start spiking around 9 a.m. Pacific.

Affected Microsoft services

Here's what Microsoft-owned services we've seen so far as having issues.

We're certain there are more plus other companies that use Azure like Starbucks but this is what we've specifically seen spike at the moment.

• Microsoft 365
• Microsoft Azure
• Micrsoft Copilot
• Microsoft Entra
• Microsoft Store
• Microsoft Teams
• Minecraft
• Xbox

AWS is also down...again

Simultaneously, Amazon Web Services has gone down again. Specifically the US-Region-1 site.

We're already seeing that impact on multiple services.

If the internet isn't working for you today, these simultaneous outages may be why.

Azure status notice

Microsoft has acknowledged the outage on the Azure status page. Here's what it currently says:

Starting at approximately 16:00 UTC, we began experiencing DNS issues resulting in availability degradation of some services. Customers may experience issues accessing the Azure Portal. We have taken action that is expected to address the portal access issues here shortly. We are actively investigating the underlying issue and additional mitigation actions. More information will be provided within 60 minutes or sooner.

It seems to be a similar problem that affected and is affecting AWS. Unlike that outage, Microsoft's appears more global.

Some services coming back online?

I am seeing a drop in reports on Down Detector.

Specifically for Azure, the Microsoft Store and 365.

However, services like Minecraft and Xbox Live are going up. It's not clear at this moment if those are separate issues.

Have you been affected?

Azure, unlike AWS, has more government contracts and business ones. Though it does power some services like Walmart.

Have you noticed a degradation of service because of the Microsoft problems today?

Let us know by emailing me at scott.younker@futurenet.com

Azure update

The Microsoft Azure status page has another update and it looks like there may be some solutions.

Customers can attempt to use programmatic methods (PowerShell, CLI, etc.) to access/utilize resources if they are unable to access the portal directly. We have failed the portal away from Azure Front Door (AFD) to attempt to mitigate the portal access issues and are continuing to assess the situation.

We are actively assessing failover options of internal services from our AFD infrastructure. Our investigation into the contributing factors and additional recovery workstreams continues. More information will be provided within 60 minutes or sooner.

That's specifically for Azure customers but it may help bring things back online.

Steep drop in reports

Since the solutions message appeared on Azure reports on Down Detector have taken a steep drop.

Here's the thing, though, other servics from Microsoft like Minecraft and Xbox are going up.

Additionally, places that use Azure like Starbucks are still totally down. Starbucks.com is inaccessible as of this writing.

Another Microsoft update

Microsoft Azure's status page has a new update showing that the team there is trying to get back to a version that wasn't facing issues. However, it appears to be partially working and the rollback may not be ready yet:

We suspect that an inadvertent configuration change as the trigger event for this issue. We are taking two concurrent actions where we are blocking all changes to the AFD services and at the same time rolling back to our last known good state.

We have failed the portal away from AFD to mitigate the portal access issues. Customers should be able to access the Azure management portal directly.

We do not have an ETA for when the rollback will be completed.

What readers are telling us

Tom's Guide readers have reached out to confirm that some services they use aren't working properly.

Some of these include the Chris Hemsworth fitness app Centr, Workfront via the Adobe Experience Platform, the Pearson Vue testing system for schools, and at least one university where a student said they couldn't upload documents.

Every region affected

You'll notice that the Azure status page has changed to show issues across every region of that they service. This includes AFD a portion of the cloud distribution service being down.

This will likely have widespread issues as problems spike up and down for services that use Azure.

Microsoft Status page down

We have been using the Microsoft Azure status site to see what the Azure team is saying about updates and how it appears to be going.

However, even that page is down now!

As you can see in the screenshot above the only thing I can see is a "We'll be back soon!" message. It's not clear how long that will last.

A statement from Microsoft

I reached out to Microsoft toward the beginning of the outage, and we just received a response from the company.

"We are working to address an issue affecting Azure Front Door that is impacting the availability of some services. Customers should continue to check their Service Health Alerts and the latest update on this issue can be found on the Azure status page.”

It's not an explanation and directs us to the status page we've already been reviewing. But if you haven't looked there, please do.

I will note that the "failover strategies" page it currently links to is broken.

Mitigation deployed

According to the Azure status page, the Microsoft team has deployed its fix, which should be ready in about 30 minutes.

We have initiated the deployment of our 'last known good' configuration. This is expected to be fully deployed in about 30 minutes from which point customers will start to see initial signs of recovery. Once this is completed, the next stage is to start to recover nodes while we route traffic through these healthy nodes.

Customer configuration changes will remain blocked during this time as we work towards mitigation. We will communicate to customers when this block is reverted.

Reports down

Over on Down Detector the main Microsoft services from Azure to 365 and Teams have steadily declined. It's not quite over but Azure's reports are under 2,500.

However, the gaming services Minecraft and Xbox Live remain seeing high reports.

We are currently waiting for the Azure mitigation to go through. That should happen in about 10 or 15 minutes.

Xbox struggling

With Xbox Live and Minecraft still showing outage issues, I tried checking the Xbox status page and can't access it at all.

All I can see is a tiny Xbox logo with the spinning loading circle.

I have reached out to Xbox about the outage, but have yet to receive a response.

Azure update - Recovery

According to the Azure status page, the team there has rolled back to the "last known good" configuration. This means that recovery signs should start appearing. However, it may not be a full one yet.

We have pushed our ‘last known good’ configuration, and customers may begin to see initial signs of recovery. We are currently recovering nodes and routing traffic through healthy nodes, and as we make progress in this workstream, customers will continue to see improvement.

Customer configuration changes will remain temporarily blocked while we continue mitigation efforts. We will notify customers once this block has been lifted.

More reader reports

From the outside, it looks like Azure is finally coming back online after over three hours of issues.

That said, we have received more emails from Tom's Guide readers. Here's what they're saying.

More people at schools reached out saying that their 365 programs aren't working properly and their student systems down.

One reader from Spain noted that Microsoft's Parental Control service relies on Family Center, run on Azure. With that down, kids might not be able to access their computers for homework or fun.

In other cases, virtual desktop environments have been borked and specific apps for health services offices can't run. One business owner said they weren't able to take credit card payments.

Still can't access Xbox

The Xbox status page is still giving me an unending loading circle.

Over on Down Detector reports are currently sitting at just over 3,000. One user reported that an Xbox customer service tech told them things would be back to normal at 6 pm Mountain Standard Time still several hours from now.

What about AWS?

We've been tracking a separate outage over at Amazon Web Services.

AWS has officially denied that an outage occurred with its service but did acknowledge that "an operational issue at another infrastructure provider" could be impacting connections. They don't name Azure but with everything happening today that is the implication.

Minecraft down still?

Despite Azure seemingly back on track, Xbox Live and Minecraft are still going through it.

The Minecraft tracking site PebbleHost is showing that server sessions may be down.

I am seeing comments asking why some people are able to play online and others aren't. My suspicion is that the servers players are joining are cracked, meaning they don't use the official Mojang authentication servers and don't require a subscription account to access.

Official Mojang servers still appear to be down.

Microsoft Azure says its deployment has been completed

According to the Microsoft Azure status page they have "successfully completed" the deployment of the 'last known good' configuration.

"We initiated the deployment of our ‘last known good’ configuration, which has now successfully completed. We are currently recovering nodes and re-routing traffic through healthy nodes," the site reads.

It goes on to say that they expect recovery to fully hit by 3:20 pm Pacific.

You should be seeing signs of recovery. Configuration changes by customers are still blocked.

The outage appears to be over

After about 5 hours of issues, it appears that the Microsoft outage is finally petered out.

The remaining Microsoft properties in Minecraft and Xbox Live are finally seeing drops in reports on Down Detector. The Mojang server tracker shows things back to normal.

I'm still not able to access the Xbox status web page but I'm seeing comments from multiple users on both DD and Twitter saying they're able to get back in.

Still using Windows 10? Microsoft officially ended support on October 14, 2025, but that doesn't mean you need to panic or rush to buy a new computer. While your PC will continue working, it's now missing critical security updates that protect against new threats.

Fortunately, Microsoft has created a path to extend these vital updates for another year. Though initially announced as a $30 service, most US users can now access this extension completely free through a straightforward enrollment process. This provides you with a full 12 months to decide your next move, whether that's upgrading to Windows 11 or shopping for new hardware.

More from Tom's Guide

• These hidden Windows settings cut my boot time in half
• How to safely dispose of your Windows 10 PC after upgrading to Windows 11
• 7 clever ways to give your old Windows 10 PC new life

“Unsupported systems aren’t just outdated, they’re unprotected,” reads a rather stern warning on Microsoft’s blog to people who are still on Windows 10. Security is one of the many reasons why you should be upgrading to Windows 11 right now — in fact, Microsoft’s Digital Defense Report shows over 90% of ransomware attacks target unsupported PCs. That’s a lot!

But in an alarming poll we conducted, 84% of Tom’s Guide readers are still using Windows 10. So there’s a disconnect here.

And yes, this warning is more targeted towards businesses, given that the team talks about how much technical debt companies could fall into by delaying the updates. So allow me to read between the lines of this business-level advice and identify the risks you’re exposing yourself to, alongside what to do to fix it.

What are the risks

So what are the risks directly to you — the person on a Windows 10 PC — saying “everything is fine” and carrying on? Well, Microsoft calls it the “just one more year” thinking for business, and you may be feeling the same after enrolling for extended security updates. But these don’t leave you any less vulnerable to real threats.

High risk of ransomware and malware attacks

Your older devices will stop receiving updates that help plug any gaps in your security, helping block ransomware and malware attacks. These account for much of over 90% of attacks, and the infrastructural vulnerabilities of outdated Windows 10 systems make them prime targets.

That means personal files like photos, documents or backups can be encrypted and held for ransom, or malicious software can be used to steal personal credentials and banking details — leading to identity theft and financial fraud.

Invisible vulnerabilities

Here’s the problem with those infrastructure vulnerabilities — they often remain invisible until an incident occurs. Microsoft has stopped casting a close eye over any potential exploits in its system, so you will essentially be going in blind.

That means your system could be silently compromised for months, giving sustained access to your data or turning your PC into a bot for larger attacks.

Costing you much more in the long run

And at what cost would this be to you? Because, sure, you may be saving money in the short term by not upgrading your PC. But the financial cost of fraud is significant, and the time cost of recovering data from a compromised system on top of that?

It’s going to be a much higher toll than just getting a system that supports Windows 11.

What you can do

I don’t like to sound like the angry Head teacher here, so let’s go into the things you can do right now to keep yourself secure.

Make an upgrade plan

The first one is pretty obvious: upgrade. Chances are, your current Windows 10 system will support Windows 11. As you may have read in our interview with AMD, many of their chips were futureproofed for the requirements of newer Windows, and Intel did the same.

That being said, not everyone will be covered by this. So take the quiz to help you figure out whether you can upgrade what you already have, or if you need to save up for a new PC.

Strengthen interim protections

More from Tom's Guide

• Microsoft Teams will start snitching to your boss when you’re not in the office — and this update is coming in December
• Forget Clippy — meet Mico, Microsoft's friendlier face for Copilot's Fall Release
• Microsoft rolls out urgent Windows 11 update to fix critical recovery bug — update your PC now

With Windows 10 support at an end, Microsoft isn't making it easy to make the switch to Windows 11, as a recent update broke a crucial PC recovery tool that helps users reboot and recover PCs.

After the October 14 security update KB5066835, an issue in the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) saw USB devices not being able to work. This means that mice and keyboards will refuse to function, preventing users from selecting options in WinRE.

"After installing the Windows security update released on October 14, 2025 (KB5066835), USB devices, such as keyboards and mice, do not function in the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE)," Microsoft states. "This issue prevents navigation of any of the recovery options within WinRE."

Unless you have a touchscreen laptop, there's no way to use the built-in recovery tools, including resetting your PC, troubleshooting problems, booting into the BIOS and more. That's a major issue, especially if you run into a critical problem that requires using Microsoft's built-in recovery tools.

Microsoft states that this is only a problem in WinRE, as keyboards and mice still work in the normal Windows 11 environment.

Fortunately, Microsoft has rolled out an urgent out-of-band (OOB) update that fixes the issue, and includes all the security fixes and patches from the October 14 KB5066835 update.

Update your PC now to fix the issue

To make sure the WinRE works as intended for your USB devices, namely your mouse and keyboard, you'll want to download and install the latest Windows update. Microsoft released its KB5070773 to fix the bug, but updates after this will also resolve the problem.

Grab the latest update by heading to Settings > Windows Update and click Download & install all. Your PC will check for updates and do the rest, and you may need to restart your PC for the update to take effect. For more details, you can find out how to update Windows 11 with our guide.

Microsoft only issues OOB updates when there is a problem with its Windows OS that is critical enough to require one, as it otherwise rolls out its more general updates on a monthly basis.

If you haven't already, it's worth updating to the latest version of Windows 11 to get the most up-to-date improvements and security patches (until another problem comes up, where Microsoft is sure to issue another update to fix that). Right now, the latest version is Windows 11 version 25H2, but don't expect any big features compared to version 24H2.

More from Tom's Guide

• Windows 10 support officially ends — are you upgrading to Windows 11?
• PC taking forever to boot? Here's how to speed it up
• Your Windows 11 PC might be at risk from next month — here's how to stay protected

Waiting for my PC to start each morning was frustrating until I discovered what was really causing the delays. While most people blame startup apps, I found the real culprits hiding in Windows settings that rarely get attention. My boot time went from nearly a minute to under 30 seconds after making these adjustments.

Those annoying delays aren't just about which programs launch at startup — they're about how Windows handles shutdown, what your computer checks during boot, and which invisible services are quietly loading in the background. These hidden settings have more impact than you might think, and they're all accessible with a few clicks.

It's official. As of October 14, Windows 10 has reached its end of life, with Microsoft encouraging millions to upgrade to Windows 11. That means no more free feature updates, security fixes or technical assistance for the operating system.

Well, time isn't completely up, as the Extended Security Update (ESU) program gives the older OS an extra year of life. This is crucial, as it provides security updates for Windows 10 to keep your PC at risk of becoming vulnerable to malware, viruses, cyber threats and more.

Thanks to the ESU program, any Windows 10 PC user can sign up before it ends on October 13, 2026. Even if you enroll now, you can get previous and future security updates. With that option available, and with the whopping 1.4 billion monthly active devices on Windows, it got me thinking: How many people are still using Windows 10?

That's what we here at Tom's Guide want to know from you, and we have an easy way to find out with our polling system. Cast your votes and let us know!

Are you still using Windows 10?

So, how many people are actually upgrading to Windows 11 from Windows 10? According to StatCounter, 49% of PCs use Windows 11 globally, while 40% are on Windows 10. In the U.S., there's an even bigger gap, with 60% on Microsoft's latest OS and 36% still using the older operating system.

That's a huge number of PCs that are still running Windows 10, with an estimated 400 million laptops and desktops that haven't made the switch to Windows 11. What's more, market analysis group Omdia estimated there are 550 million machines in corporations that still use Windows 10, and half of these can't upgrade to Windows 11.

Now that Windows 10 has come to an end, though, those numbers may have completely changed — considering these stats are prior to the final deadline.

That's why we want to hear from you. After all, it's not like Windows 10 PCs have suddenly broken down now that support has ended. Are you keeping Windows 10 alive? Have you made the jump to Windows 11? We're all ears (or eyes, considering it's a poll).

Windows 11 laptops I'd upgrade to

Now that Microsoft has released its final Windows 10 update, it's clear the OS is on its last legs. If you haven't made the jump to Windows 11 because your laptop or desktop doesn't meet the strict requirements of the latest OS, then it may be time for a PC upgrade.

So, for those who haven't moved to Windows 11 because their PC simply can't, we've got just the list of the best Windows laptops for you. But to make the switch lighter on your wallet, I've found Windows 11 machines that won't cost you a fortune (thanks to welcome discounts).

Here are the Windows 11 laptops we recommend if you're moving on from Windows 10.

More from Tom's Guide

• Windows Copilot is about to get a lot more powerful — here's what's coming
• Your Windows 11 PC might be at risk from next month — here's how to stay protected
• I spoke with an AMD VP about Windows 10 end of life and transitioning to Windows 11 — here's what you need to know

The death of Windows 10 has finally arrived with support for the most recent iteration of Microsoft's operating system ending on October 14. It's not good news for older laptops or desktops that will lose new feature updates and security patches.

The transition from Windows 10 to 11 doesn't just affect consumers, even if the best laptops can upgrade to Windows 11 for free.

Partner companies like AMD are helping Microsoft build new systems that are compatible with Windows 11. But how are they avoiding e-waste? Outside of selling new PCs, what's the point of getting a new one? How are they future-proofing?

I had a chance to sit down with AMD's Vice President and General Manager of the Client OEM group, Jason Banta, to ask those questions and to see how AMD is working through the Windows 11 transition.

Editor's note: This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

Context: Despite the end of life for Windows 10 finally landing, it doesn't appear to have spurred a massive refresh. GS Statcounter lists Windows 10 as declining with a 40.5% market share compared to 48.9% for Windows 11. Interestingly, their stats show Windows 7 going up with a near 10% claim as of this writing.

The way we look at it is that the update needs to happen. And what we want to do from an AMD perspective is tell our best story about.

Why is it a great time to upgrade?

If you move to a Zen 5-based, RDNA-based Ryzen product, you're going to see massive improvements in productivity performance, content creation performance, and battery life.

We're helping folks understand what benefit they get from that, and we think that's going to lead people to a Ryzen-based product. But we're also making sure that they understand that there's urgency, too.

We're guiding folks to future-proof those purchases when they're choosing a new PC with AI and NPU technology. That's something where AMD has the strongest performance; we have a lead in NPU performance and AI performance.

There are experiences that will benefit from that AI technology today, but there's a whole road map of experiences to come that will also leverage that technology.

If you haven't bought a PC in four or five years and want something that will last several years longer, consider getting one with AIPC capability, as more experiences will come out that leverage and need it.

More from Tom's Guide

• Windows 10 End of Life deadline today — LIVE updates and what you need to do
• Sony confirms PS6 will arrive 'in a few years' as AMD teases breakthrough GPU performance
• Time has run out for millions of Windows 10 users, but here's the trick for a free one-year extension

Windows 11 version 23H2 will stop getting security updates on November 11, 2025. If you’re still running this version, released back in October 2023, your PC won’t receive the monthly patches that protect it from new bugs and security threats after that date.

Microsoft rolls out a new Windows 11 update every year, and each version stays supported for about two years. With 24H2 now the current release and 25H2 on the way, 23H2 is officially being phased out. If you’re already on Windows 11, updating is free and only takes a few minutes. Here’s how I checked my version and made sure my PC was up to date and protected.

More from Tom's Guide

• This hidden Windows 11 feature lets you force an emergency restart
• 7 clever ways to give your old Windows 10 PC new life
• How to dispose of your Windows 10 laptop after upgrading to Windows 11

It's official. Microsoft has ended support for its Windows 10 operating system, meaning all Windows 10 PCs have reached their end of life. Now, there will be no further major updates for the OS after a decade on the market. However, I'm here to give you all the Windows 10 end of life tips to point you in the right direction.

On October 14, Microsoft rolled out its final Windows 10 update, with the KB5066791 update being available to install now. As of now, Microsoft will no longer offer free software updates, security patches and technical assistance from Windows Update for the older OS and is encouraging users to upgrade to Windows 11. However, there are still actions you can take.

You can still use your Windows 10 PC now, but without updates, it's at risk of becoming vulnerable to malware, viruses, cyber threats and more. With Microsoft's Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, you can sign up to get an extra year of security support until October 13, 2026. And you can enroll in this program right now.

It's been a long time coming, and you can find out all you need to know as support for Windows 10 has officially come to an end, along with your best options on upgrading to Windows 11, staying on your old PC and making the switch to a new laptop or desktop. Here's what you need to know and what you must do now.

Windows 10 end of support: What you need to know

• Enroll in Microsoft's Windows 10​​​​​​​ Consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) program: Need more time before moving to a new Windows 11 device? The Extended Security Updates (ESU) program can protect your Windows 10 device up to a year after October 14, 2025. You can find it by heading to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update, and you'll find an ESU enrollment link.
• Upgrade to Windows 11: If your PC meets the minimum system requirements for Windows 11 and can make the upgrade, you'll have probably already seen a notification pop up to make the switch. To check, go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and select Check for updates. 
• Buy a new PC with Windows 11: If your PC is not eligible, or if you want a new PC with Windows 11 pre-installed, you'll want to check out the best Windows laptops today to get a top-rated Windows 11 experience.

Windows 10 end of support latest updates

The end of Windows 10 is here!

Windows 10 is coming to an end, and I'm here to track Microsoft's final hours of support. After today (October 14), the older operating system will no longer receive security and feature updates, or techincal support. Well, sort of, as there is an option to extend its life!

According to Microsoft, there are three main options to stay supported on a Windows computer:

• Installing Windows 11: If your PC meets the minimum system requirements for Windows 11 and can make the upgrade, you'll have probably already seen an notification pop up to make the switch. To check, go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and select Check for updates. 
• New PC with Windows 11: If your PC is not eligible, or if you want a new PC with Windows 11 pre-installed, you'll want to check out the best Windows laptops today to get a top-rated Windows 11 experience.
• Extended Security Updates (ESU) program: Need more time before moving to a Copilot+ PC or other new Windows 11 device? The consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) program can protect your Windows 10 device up to a year after October 14, 2025. 

What is the ESU program?

Speaking of Microsoft's Extended Security Update (ESU) program, it's best to know what it is and what you need to do to sign up.

Microsoft's ESU program is a way for Windows 10 users to receive critical and important security updates for the OS after it ends support on October 14.

"They are not intended as a long-term solution, but rather as a temporary bridge to stay secure while one migrates to a newer, supported platform. It includes Critical* and/or Important* security updates up to three years after the product's End of Extended Support date," Microsoft notes.

In the case of Windows 10, this will only last for a year until October 13, 2026. Although who knows, this may be extended further down the line.

To sign up, make sure your Windows 10 PC is up to date (running Windows 10 version 22H2). From there, head to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and you'll find an ESU enrollment link.

Unless you're in the EU, with PCs in this region being able to sign up for free, you'll have to choose the following options:

• Use Windows Backup to sync your settings to the cloud (free).
• Redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points (free).
• Pay $30 for 10 PCs (pricing varies per region).

Millions of Windows 10 users will be affected today

So, let's dive into the numbers. According to StatCounter, 60% of users are now using Windows 11. That leaves around 36% of people still on Windows 10, although that number may shift today. Despite many consumers now upgrading to the latest OS, that still leaves an estimated hundreds of millions of PCs still using Windows 10.

There are around 400 million PCs, including laptops and desktops, that are currently still running Windows 10, according to the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) speaking to The Register. However, as noted in a recent report, market analysis group Omdia estimates there are 550 million machines in corporations that still use Windows 10, and half of these can't upgrade to Windows 11.

Furthermore, Canalys Research estimates up to 240 million Windows 10 users could be targeted by half a dozen actively exploited vulnerabilities after Microsoft pulls the plug.

So, if your PC is one of the millions that will be affected by the change, it's time to enroll in the ESU program. You have until the program ends in 2026, but the sooner you do it, the safer your PC will be.

What are the risks for staying on Windows 10 after today?

If you're wondering what will happen after the October 14 deadline while staying on Windows 10, don't worry, your laptop or desktop won't randomly shut down. You'll still be able to use your PC, but the main concerns are all about security and performance risks involved.

Since Windows 10 won't receive any updates, unless you enroll in the ESU program to get crucial security updates, that will leave your computer vulnerable to performance issues and, most importantly, malware or cyber threats.

We've noted the three risks you're taking by not upgrading to Windows 11, and this includes being vulnerable to malware, data breaches and cyber attacks, along with performance problems and software compatibility.

Without updates, new vulnerabilities in Windows 10 won’t be fixed, which could make your system more vulnerable to exploits. The operating system will also be an easier target for threat actors or malware authors, which increases the risk of infections and data loss.

Can I enroll in the ESU program now?

It's not too late! Windows 10 comes to an end today, but you can still sign up for Microsoft's Windows 10 Extended Security Update (ESU) program now.

As Microsoft states on its support page, any Windows 10 PC user can sign up to the ESU program before it ends on October 13, 2026. Even if you enroll after it launches, you can get previous and future updates.

However, the longer you leave it, the more vulnerable your PC becomes to malware, viruses and more security threats, seeing as you'll need the ESU program to receive crucial security updates.

So, it's worth signing up now if you haven't already, as your Windows 10 PC will then be ready for all the updates after the deadline. We've got you covered on how to enroll in the ESU program.

Staying on Windows 10? Here's what you're in for

Security updates are crucial in keeping malware and viruses at bay, which is why it's important to enroll in the ESU program if you plan on keeping Windows 10 alive on your PC. Don't worry, cyber threats won't suddenly flood your system as soon as the deadline passes, but it's good to stay secure.

However, another pain point of sticking with Windows 10 instead of switching to Windows 11 is software compatibility.

Some software might eventually become incompatible with the operating system. Apps might stop working, or their functionality might be reduced since they’re no longer being updated for compatibility with Windows 10.

That's especially true if you're using PC peripherals, like a mouse, keyboard, webcam and more. Because they won't be able to update to their latest software, they may not work as intended on your computer anymore.

Keep that in mind if you're continuing to use your PC with Windows 10! Of course, upgrading to Windows 11 is always another option to make sure everything works as it should.

Windows 11 upgrade not working? There's another way

In what might be the worst timing for Microsoft, the Windows 11 media creation tool isn't working as expected, as Microsoft confirmed. The company is still working on the issue, but it isn't the best time, seeing as it's one of the ways to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11.

As noted by the tech giant: "The media creation tool is used to create a bootable USB or DVD which can be utilized to perform a reinstall or clean install of Windows 11 on a new or used PC."

If this rings a bell, and you can't seem to make the jump to Windows 11, there is a workaround for now. Microsoft states: "Bootable media can be downloaded directly from the Microsoft site for Windows 11." Head over to the section called "Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) for x64 devices," and you'll be able to follow the instructions and make the jump from there.

Of course, you can always try heading to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and select Check for updates to see if upgrading to Windows 11 works that way.

Our favorite budget Windows 11 laptop makes for a great upgrade

If your PC can't handle Windows 11, then it's probably time for an upgrade, and we have just the laptop that won't put much of a dent in your wallet. In fact, it's under $300 right now.

The Acer Aspire Go 15 is a fine example of a Windows 11 laptop bargain. With its Intel Core i3-N305 CPU, the Aspire Go 15 is a solid option for day-to-day tasks, from scrolling through websites and working on documents to binge-watching shows.

Speaking of which, its 15.6-inch (1920 x 1080) display is roomy enough to make the most of what's on screen, and it offers a surprisingly good keyboard to comfortably type away on.

It isn't anywhere near the most powerful on the market, nor does it boast any premium features (expect a blurry 720p webcam), but for under $300, it makes for the best wallet-friendly upgrade to Windows 11.

In fact, we have a whole list of the best budget laptops that will help you move from Windows 10 to Windows 11 (or another OS) for less!

There's another version of Windows 11 to try...

Want to keep your Windows 10 PC but can't upgrade to Windows 11? Well, you could always try a whole new version of Microsoft's latest operating system instead. This custom Tiny11 Builder is giving unsupported computers another chance.

Interestingly, this lightweight, custom Windows 11 build removes many of Microsoft's features and applications to allow older systems that don't meet Windows 11's strict requirements to run the latest operating system. So, no Copilot+ AI features or any of the many Microsoft apps that cause a lot of bloat for a system.

Developed by NTDEV and available for use via GitHub, the Tiny11 Builder is a PowerShell script designed to strip Windows 11 of bloat while keeping the OS serviceable on systems. As noted, it can be used on "any Windows 11 release," and that includes the latest Windows 11 version 25H2 that's now ready for all users (even though this update doesn't come with any new features).

That's another option for many Windows 10 users to keep using their old laptop or desktop without needing to buy a new PC. That said, Tiny11 Builder can be technical for some, but NTDEV has outlined detailed instructions on how to get it working. If it suits your needs, it's worth giving a try!

Is it worth giving Linux a go?

Done with Windows and prefer to try something more open-source? Linux is your best bet, as it's free to use and gives you plenty of freedom. That said, it's definitely not for everyone, so for something more familiar, I recommend sticking with Windows 11, or even trying macOS or ChromeOS. In fact, ChromeOS Flex can turn your old Windows 10 PC into a Chromebook.

Otherwise, Linux is open-source, so there are all sorts of different flavors you can try, and that means there are nearly endless guides and support forums across the web full of Linux fans sharing tips and comparing distros.

If you're not familiar, a "distro" of Linux is basically a custom package of files that is used to distribute (hence "distro") a complete version of Linux. Each distro comes with different libraries, different apps, different interfaces and all sorts of unique strengths.

Because of that, Linux is especially popular with folks who manage lots of different types of machines. Some Linux distros even have user interfaces that look very similar to the Windows desktop. To get started, I suggest you follow our basic guide on how to install Linux and read up on why gaming on Linux is better (and worse) than you think.

What to do with your old Windows 10 PC?

Many Windows 10 PCs are about to become obsolete, which means plenty of devices will be left to dust. So, what can you do with your old Windows 10 PC if you're buying a new device? Don't just give it away, donate or recycle it just yet! There are a few steps to take.

We've outlined what you should do to safely dispose of your Windows 10 laptop, and it includes the following:

• Back up your important files: move the files you want to keep onto an external drive or cloud storage services like OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox.
• Reset Windows 10 with a full clean: Perform a full reset of Windows 10. Go to Settings, then Update & Security, then Recovery, and choose Reset this PC. Then, select Remove everything and then choose to fully clean the drive.
• Use manufacturer tools for extra security: This will fully secure and wipe your laptop's SSD.
• Salvage useful parts: If you're recycling your laptop, consider whether any parts could be reused. RAM sticks, chargers, and storage drives often remain functional even when the main laptop has slowed down.

No need to pay to sign up to the ESU program!

While Microsoft initially wanted you to pay $30 (depending on your region) to enroll in the ESU program, thankfully, you no longer have to fork over your hard-earned cash just to sign up, even though that's still an option.

There are two free options, but they still require some steps. That includes redeeming 1,000 Microsoft Rewards or using Windows Backup to sync your settings to the cloud:

• For those looking to store their data through Windows Backup, take note that Windows 10 users get 5GB of free OneDrive space. If this isn't enough space, then you'll have to opt to buy more.
• For those who have 1,000 Microsoft Rewards in their Microsoft Rewards account, these can be exchanged for an extra year of support. Even if you don't have enough points, gaining them can be easy. As an example, you can earn 500 Microsoft Rewards points just for downloading the Bing smartphone app.

Again, those who live in Europe luckily don't have to go through this, so sign up and you'll get an extra year of Windows 10 security updates!

Windows 11 has its perks over Windows 10!

It can be a pain to switch to Windows 11, especially for those who have gotten used to Windows 10 and aren't phased by the AI features a Copilot+ PC can offer. It's not without some setbacks, but there are a few things a Windows 11 PC can do better than a Windows 10 computer.

One of my favorites includes better multi-monitor support. They both offer it, sure, but Windows 11 is smarter at detecting and automatically setting individual monitor refresh rates, and it offers an overall more intuitive experience when remembering your window layout when you turn the PC on and off.

That, and Snap Layouts can work like a charm. This allows for multiple apps to be dotted around your monitor in a layout that suits your needs, whether it be a split-screen grouping or one app holding half the screen while another two fill up the rest of the space.

There are a few other options, including Copilot+ features (which are always improving) and more gaming features. It makes moving to Windows 11 that much easier, if that's the path you're taking!

Tech companies want to 'help organisations refresh their technology'

With Windows 10 support ending today, companies are making sure that they're all prepped for the jump to Windows 11.

That includes Acer, which is reassuring its U.K. business customers with its campaign on its Acer TravelMate P Series laptops and Veriton N Series business desktops, offering a free extended three-year warranty on PCs that comes with Windows 11 Pro.

“Windows 10 reaching end of life is an important milestone for UK businesses,” said Craig Booth, Country Manager, Acer UK. “We know IT leaders are under pressure to balance budgets with security and uptime. This is Acer’s way of saying: we’re with you. Our Windows 11-ready devices, paired with a free three-year warranty, help organisations refresh their technology with complete peace of mind.”

Upgrading to Windows 11? Don't miss these features!

If you've been a Windows 10 user for this long, you may not like the idea of making the jump to Windows 11. But it isn't so bad! Still, there are certain things my fellow computing expert Alex Wawro wish he knew before upgrading from Windows 10.

Two of these tips make the overall experience much less frustrating and easier on the eyes. For one, you can clear out taskbar clutter, including Microsoft Edge, Teams, Store and more that end up on there.

To get rid of some, you can simply right-click the icon on the taskbar and select Unpin from taskbar from the context menu. Or, head to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar and open the Taskbar items sub-menu, where you'll have the choice to disable the Microsoft Teams, Widgets and Task view buttons.

I really recommend turning on Dark Mode for the whole system, too, as it reduces eyestrain and fatigue, and just looks more stylish. However, you can also adjust colors to personalize your setup. Simply navigate to Settings > Personalization > Colors and select "Dark" from the "Choose your mode" dropdown menu.

AMD: 'You need to move to Windows 11'

In an interview with Tom's Guide, CVP and GM of Client OEM at AMD, Jason Banta, said that many are ready to make the switch to Windows 11.

"We have a lot of discussions with Microsoft and OEMs about the opportunity here, and about the refresh," said Banta. "So the opportunity space here is hundreds of millions of devices. It's a massive opportunity for devices that are running Windows 10 actively today, and we are seeing from our data and discussion with Microsoft, we are seeing folks make the move. We've seen strong data that that's happening.

Banta continues: "I personally know people in my personal life or folks that I work with, they've heard about it or they've seen the pop-up message that says, hey, to maintain support, you need to move to Windows 11. They have questions about it. So, it's bringing people back into a place where they're considering a PC purchase from an older PC."

According to StatCounter, stating that 60% are now on Windows 11 (on desktops, at least), and this number has been climbing over the past year. Still, there's over 30% on Windows 10, but with today being the last for support, we could see that Windows 10 usage percentage dip even lower.

A cheap way to upgrade to Windows 11

• Acer Aspire G 15: $309 @ Amazon

If you're on a tight budget but need a dependable Windows 11 computer for work and everyday tasks, we recommend the $300 Acer Aspire Go 15. Though it doesn't feature the most impressive specs, it'll do you right until you can upgrade to a more powerful Windows 11 machine.

Acer's Aspire Go 15 isn't an amazing laptop, but it doesn't have to be when the asking price is $300. For that, you can make peace with the low-powered CPU and paltry complement of 8GB RAM and 128GB of storage. This is fine for browsing the web, writing and editing, and maybe some very light gaming.

What the Acer Aspire Go 15 lacks in features or charm it more than makes up for in utility, as it offers 10 hours of (tested) battery life and a keyboard that's surprisingly comfy to type on. And while I think its 15.6-inch 1080p screen looks a bit washed-out and won't make colors pop, it's more than good enough for web surfing or working with documents.

Another reason to upgrade to Windows 11

Beyond security risks, system performance will degrade over time. This is something you’ve no doubt experienced when you haven’t updated in a while, so imagine how much worse it will be with an unpatched Windows 10.

Without regular updates, Windows 10 will become less efficient and less stable. It will also be more prone to operational problems, like system crashes and slower performance.

If you rely on your computer for work, having to deal with constant performance problems can cost you valuable time and money. You’ll only face worsening system performance over time.

Get around Windows 11's annoyances with PowerToys

Here's what Alex Wawro said about a useful app for new Windows 11 users:

Microsoft's PowerToys app isn't new or unique to Windows 11, but I definitely wish I'd started using it as soon as I upgraded because PowerToys lets you disable or work around a lot of the annoying aspects of Microsoft's latest OS.

You can download PowerToys from the Microsoft Store for free (check out our guide on how to get PowerToys in Windows 11), and it comes with over 25 tools and utilities you can use to customize Windows 11 and use it more effectively.

For example, the new PowerToys Command Palette utility gives you an efficient, easy-to-use interface that lets you more quickly launch apps, find files and execute commands than you could from the Start menu. Once PowerToys is installed, you simply hit Windows + Alt + Space and the Command Palette appears, letting you quickly search for files and settings using natural language. It also gives you clickable shortcuts to quickly access your Settings menu, apps list and more.

There are lots of other PowerToys that replicate or improve upon features in competing operating systems, too, like Mouse Without Borders, which lets you use one mouse across multiple PCs the same way you can use a single mouse across multiple Macs and iPads with Universal Control.

Or try Shortcut Guide, which makes it easy to quickly summon a customizable guide to keyboard shortcuts so you don't have to keep referring to our own essential Windows 11 keyboard shortcuts list.

Here's your guide to surviving the end of Windows 10

If you live in a Pacific time zone you may just be getting up to speed with the fact that today, October 14, is the final day Microsoft will officially issue security patches and feature updates to Windows 10.

That's right, today is the last "Patch Tuesday" you'll ever see for Windows 10 - unless you sign up for Microsoft's Windows 10 Extended Support Updates (ESU) program, which guarantees you an additional year of critical security updates for Windows 10.

Of course you'll have to pay a nominal fee (either in cash or Microsoft points) or use Windows Backup to join the Windows 10 ESU program, but once you do you can rest easy for another year. But of course, come October 2026 you'll be right back here in the hot water of deciding whether to upgrade to Windows 11 or jump ship to another operating system.

To help you make the choice I put together a Windows 10 upgrade guide that walks you through every different choice you have and how to accomplish it. So whether you decide to delay, upgrade or abandon Windows entirely, I've got step-by-step guidelines on how to get there. Good luck!

Is your PC ready for Windows 11?

There's a big question every Windows 10 user has to ask themselves today: Is my PC capable of upgrading to Windows 11?

You can check out our rundown of the Windows 11 system requirements to get a sense, or follow this quick Kwizly quiz to better understand if your PC is ready for the next generation of Windows.

Here's our top picks for a new Windows 11 machine to upgrade to

Need a new machine to run Windows 11 and not sure which to choose?

You're not alone, and we have the experience to help. My team and I have been reviewing Windows 11 laptops, desktops and tablets since 2021, so I have some tips on which machines are worth buying and which you should skip.

Check out our article on 5 Windows 11 machines you can upgrade to right now for some quick tips and buying advice, as well as links to our full reviews with test results, hands-on reports, photos and more!

Windows 10 users, prepare yourselves

Today is the final day that Microsoft will issue security patches for Windows unless you enroll in the ESU program to get crucial security updates, in which case you get another year of breathing room.

But if you don't, your Windows 10 PC won't suddenly implode tomorrow. Instead, it's going to slowly get more and more vulnerable to malware and may experience software compatibility issues over time. At some point, maybe some point soon, your favorite apps may no longer take updates because developers won't trust Windows 10 PCs as a safe platform.

We've run down the three risks you're taking by not upgrading to Windows 11 in more detail if you're curious to read up on what threats you're facing on the road ahead.

Of course, if you never take your Windows 10 PC online and never need to install a new program or update again, you probably don't have much to worry about! But if you ever plan on accessing email or browsing the web again, you should be prepared for what's coming.

Time is up! Microsoft rolls out final Windows 10 update

The end has finally arrived. Microsoft has now released its final update for Windows 10, and there will now be no further main updates for the operating system.

The update is KB5066791, with Microsoft stating it will "no longer provide free software updates from Windows Update, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10. Your PC will still work, but we recommend moving to Windows 11.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​"

It's not a final goodbye, as Windows 10 users who enroll in the ESU program will still get security updates until October 13, 2026. As per Microsoft, even if you enroll after it launches, you can get previous and future updates.

But time is now up. Here's a recap of what you can do now:

• Enroll in Microsoft's Windows 10​​​​​​​ Consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) program: Need more time before moving to a new Windows 11 device? The Extended Security Updates (ESU) program can protect your Windows 10 device up to a year after October 14, 2025. You can find it by heading to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update, and you'll find an ESU enrollment link.
• Upgrade to Windows 11: If your PC meets the minimum system requirements for Windows 11 and can make the upgrade, you'll have probably already seen a notification pop up to make the switch. To check, go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and select Check for updates. 
• Buy a new PC with Windows 11: If your PC is not eligible, or if you want a new PC with Windows 11 pre-installed, you'll want to check out the best Windows laptops today to get a top-rated Windows 11 experience.

A budget-friendly Windows 11 laptop

• Acer Aspire G 15: $309 @ Amazon

We previously recommended the Acer Aspire Go 15 for anyone who needs a dependable Windows 11 that won't break the budget. We wanted to spotlight it again since it's a fine choice if you need a Windows 11 PC right now.

Acer's Aspire Go 15 isn't an amazing laptop, but it doesn't have to be when the asking price is $300. For that, you can make peace with the low-powered CPU and paltry complement of 8GB RAM and 128GB of storage. This is fine for browsing the web, writing and editing, and maybe some very light gaming.

What the Acer Aspire Go 15 lacks in features or charm, it more than makes up for in utility, as it offers 10 hours of (tested) battery life and a keyboard that's surprisingly comfy to type on. And while I think its 15.6-inch 1080p screen looks a bit washed-out and won't make colors pop, it's more than good enough for web surfing or working with documents.

What does the end of Windows 10 mean for you?

We're now well past Microsoft's Windows 10 end of support deadline (the last day was October 14), but hundreds of millions are still using the older OS. In fact, over the past month, Windows 7 has even been on the (slight) rise, according to StatCounter.

But the move to Windows 11 for many is inevitable, as with Windows 10 not receiving any more feature updates, security patches or technical assistance, it will leave your computer vulnerable to malware, viruses, cyber threats and more.

However, those who enroll in the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program will still receive critical security updates until October 13, 2026. This can be done at any time until the program ends, but the sooner you do it, the better. Otherwise, your PC will be at risk of cyber attacks.

So, as anyone with a PC still running Windows 10 will tell you, your laptop or desktop can still be used. That said, Windows 10 is on its last legs, and eventually, Windows 11 will take over, seeing as it's now Microsoft's only OS that rolls out frequent updates for features and security.

Sure, you can still use Windows 10 over the next year (you'll need to sign up to the ESU program to make sure you're secure), but it's worth upgrading to Windows 11 or grabbing one of the best Windows laptops that has Windows 11 installed. For many, it's the safer option.

What you can do now with your old Windows 10 PC

Now that many Windows 10 PCs have reached their end of life, this means plenty of devices will be left to dust. So, what can you actually do with your old Windows 10 PC if you're buying a new device? Don't just give it away, donate or recycle it just yet! There are a few steps to take.

We've outlined what you should do to safely dispose of your Windows 10 laptop, and it includes the following:

• Back up your important files: move the files you want to keep onto an external drive or cloud storage services like OneDrive, Google Drive or Dropbox.
• Reset Windows 10 with a full clean: Perform a full reset of Windows 10. Go to Settings, then Update & Security, then Recovery, and choose Reset this PC. Then, select Remove everything and then choose to fully clean the drive.
• Use manufacturer tools for extra security: This will fully secure and wipe your laptop's SSD.
• Salvage useful parts: If you're recycling your laptop, consider whether any parts could be reused. RAM sticks, chargers, and storage drives often remain functional even when the main laptop has slowed down.

What are the risks for staying on Windows 10 now?

If you're wondering what will happen now that the Windows 10 EoL deadline has passed, don't worry, your laptop or desktop won't randomly shut down. You'll still be able to use your PC, but the main concerns are all about security and performance risks involved.

Since Windows 10 won't receive any updates, unless you enroll in the ESU program to get crucial security updates, that will leave your computer vulnerable to performance issues and, most importantly, malware or cyber threats.

We've noted the three risks you're taking by not upgrading to Windows 11, and this includes being vulnerable to malware, data breaches and cyber attacks, along with performance problems and software compatibility.

Without updates, new vulnerabilities in Windows 10 won’t be fixed, which could make your system more vulnerable to exploits. The operating system will also be an easier target for threat actors or malware authors, which increases the risk of infections and data loss.

Tried this Windows 11 alternative?

If you're keeping Windows 10 because you can't upgrade to Windows 11 on your PC, you could always try a whole new version of Microsoft's latest operating system instead. This custom Tiny11 Builder is giving unsupported computers another chance.

Interestingly, this lightweight, custom Windows 11 build removes many of Microsoft's features and applications to allow older systems that don't meet Windows 11's strict requirements to run the latest operating system. So, no Copilot+ AI features or any of the many Microsoft apps that cause a lot of bloat for a system.

Developed by NTDEV and available for use via GitHub, the Tiny11 Builder is a PowerShell script designed to strip Windows 11 of bloat while keeping the OS serviceable on systems. As noted, it can be used on "any Windows 11 release," and that includes the latest Windows 11 version 25H2 that's now ready for all users (even though this update doesn't come with any new features).

That's another option for many Windows 10 users to keep using their old laptop or desktop without needing to buy a new PC. That said, Tiny11 Builder can be technical for some, but NTDEV has outlined detailed instructions on how to get it working. If it suits your needs, it's worth giving a try!

Here's what to expect from Windows 11's new Copilot features

If you're moving from Windows 10 to Windows 11, prepare for a batch of new AI features from Microsoft's Copilot — which may be another incentive to make the switch.

As noted, Microsoft is working to integrate AI more deeply into Windows 11, and anyone who updates their Copilot+ Windows 11 PCs (or makes the jump to a new Windows 11 Copilot+ PC) this week should get a new feature that lets you use a wake word to talk to Copilot and ask it questions, just like other AI assistants.

Another major feature includes bringing Copilot Vision to Windows 11 users worldwide. THis is a feature that allows you to ask Windows 11's Copilot app about what's displayed on your desktop, giving Copilot access to a screenshot of what you're looking at, and then the AI assistant will try to provide contextual assistance as you ask it questions about anything: a website, a game, a photo or whatever else you try it on.

Coming down the line (and in the Windows Insider program), you can also expect a new Ask Copilot taskbar feature, deeper Copilot links and integration with external services and Copilot Actions, which allows you to ask Copilot to do things like reserve a table or book a flight via third-party services.

There's a lot to look forward to, and Microsoft is clearly giving another reason to upgrade to Windows 11.

Can I still enroll in the ESU program now?

Yes! While the Windows 10 end of support deadline has passed, you can still sign up for Microsoft's Windows 10 Extended Security Update (ESU) program now.

As Microsoft states on its support page, any Windows 10 PC user can sign up to the ESU program before it ends on October 13, 2026. Even if you enroll now, you can get previous and future security updates.

However, the longer you leave it, the more vulnerable your PC becomes to malware, viruses and more security threats, seeing as you'll need the ESU program to receive crucial security updates.

So, it's worth signing up now if you haven't already, as your Windows 10 PC will be safe for it. We've got you covered on how to enroll in the ESU program.

Tired of Windows? Give Linux a go

Done with Windows and prefer to try something more open-source? Linux is your best bet, as it's free to use and gives you plenty of freedom. That said, it's definitely not for everyone, so for something more familiar, I recommend sticking with Windows 11, or even trying macOS or ChromeOS. In fact, ChromeOS Flex can turn your old Windows 10 PC into a Chromebook.

Otherwise, Linux is open-source, so there are all sorts of different flavors you can try, and that means there are nearly endless guides and support forums across the web full of Linux fans sharing tips and comparing distros.

If you're not familiar, a "distro" of Linux is basically a custom package of files that is used to distribute (hence "distro") a complete version of Linux. Each distro comes with different libraries, different apps, different interfaces and all sorts of unique strengths.

Because of that, Linux is especially popular with folks who manage lots of different types of machines. Some Linux distros even have user interfaces that look very similar to the Windows desktop. To get started, I suggest you follow our basic guide on how to install Linux and read up on why gaming on Linux is better (and worse) than you think.

In case you somehow haven't heard, Microsoft is putting Windows 10 out to pasture starting today. Support for Windows 10 is ending on October 14, meaning Microsoft will stop issuing security patches and feature updates for it — and that's seriously bad news if you're still using an older desktop or laptop.

While the best laptops and PCs compatible with Windows 11 can upgrade for free, older devices may not have the specifications needed to make the switch. You'll still be able to use your Windows 10 PC after October 14, but it won't automatically get important security updates, and that leaves your device more vulnerable to hackers and scams. Canalys Research estimates up to 240 million Windows 10 users could be targeted by half a dozen actively exploited vulnerabilities after Microsoft pulls the plug.

Need a very quick test to find out if your PC is eligible for a Windows 11 upgrade? Our custom tool below will tell you in less than a minute. And be sure to check out our Windows 10 End of Life live blog for all the latest updates and advice on what to do now.

However, Microsoft has offered an olive branch for those of us dragging our feet: the Extended Support Updates (ESU) program. Anyone who signs up gets an extra year of Windows 10 support updates, but you'll need to either pay $30 or agree to back up your data to Microsoft's servers. While not crazy strict requirements, it does mean you'll have to either trust Microsoft with your personal data or fork over a fee — a cost that could creep up if you go over your free OneDrive storage limit.

If you'd rather keep that $30 in your pocket, there is a free alternative. Here's how to take advantage of it to keep your Windows 10 PC protected for another year. Our Windows 10 end of life guide will also tell you even more about making the switch to Windows 11 if you do decide to upgrade.

How to sign up for Windows 10 Extended Security Updates for free

To enroll in Microsoft's Extended Security Updates (ESU) updates, first ensure that your PC is up to date. You can do that by heading to the Settings menu, selecting System, then About, and scrolling down to make sure you're running the latest version of Windows 10.

While you're in the Settings menu, double-check that you're signed into the administrator account. You can find that information under the Your Info menu.

Now select Update & Security from the Settings menu. Under the banner "Windows 10 support ends in October 2025," click the Enroll Now sign-up link. (Note: If you don't see that option, it's likely your computer needs to update to the latest version of Windows 10.)

Now choose how you'd like to enroll. For the free option, select Back up your PC settings. Keep in mind that you'll have to link your Windows login to Microsoft's cloud-based online service. If you use Microsoft services like OneDrive, Office 365, GamePass, or the like, you've likely done this already.

Another thing to note is that this "free" backup only applies to the first 5GB of storage. If you have more than that, you'll need to buy a bigger cloud storage plan, which start at $20 a month for Microsoft's most basic option. You can choose what data you want to back up in the Settings as well, just look in the OneDrive menu.

Once you're ready to get the ball rolling, just sign in and a window will pop up that reads: "Add this device to receive Extended Security Updates." Select Add Device to enroll it, click Done, and that's it.

Now you've got another 12 months to upgrade to one of the best Windows laptops like the Dell XPS 13, our best overall pick for portability and battery life. For those on a budget, the Acer Aspire Go 15 is one of the most fully featured Windows 11 laptops out there for under $300.

More from Tom's Guide

• Microsoft just gave Windows 10 users a lifeline, but there's a catch — here's how to know if you qualify for free extended updates
• Best PC gaming deals
• 5 things I wish I knew about Windows 11 when I upgraded from Windows 10

Microsoft's end of Windows 10 support is looming, but hundreds of millions of PCs are still using the last-gen operating system. From October 14, 2025, this will pose a serious problem for users.

An estimated 400 million PCs, including laptops and desktops, are currently still running Windows 10, according to the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) speaking to The Register. However, as noted in a recent report, market analysis group Omdia estimates there are 550 million machines in corporations that still use Windows 10, and half of these can't upgrade to Windows 11.

According to StatCounter, 49% of PCs now use Windows 11, surpassing the number of users on Windows 10, which stands at 40%. At least, this is for desktops running Windows, but Microsoft has stated that there are 1.4 billion monthly active devices on Windows.

It's become clear that there are still millions of PCs at risk as Windows 10 end of life comes closer, and Microsoft continues to push those who can to upgrade to Windows 11. While groups like PIRG petition for Microsoft to extend free support on Windows 10, the deadline still looms.

But there's still time to prepare for Windows 10's end of support. If your laptop or desktop is running Microsoft's older OS, here's what you need to do.

Can your PC run Windows 11?

According to research, there are many PCs that don't meet the requirements to run Windows 11. Microsoft has strict hardware requirements, including TPM 2.0 and specific CPUs that your computer needs in order to run the latest OS. However, there are ways around this, as your unsupported Windows 10 PC can still run Windows 11.

However, this comes with its own risks, with the company stating, "Microsoft does not recommend installing Windows 11 on devices that don't meet the minimum service requirements and that doing so may result in compatibility issues."

With this in mind, it's a good idea to find out if your laptop or desktop can handle Windows 11. To make the process easy, follow our walkthrough below to find out what you should do next.

Start enrolling now

While Microsoft will be officially ending support on Windows 10 on October 14, you can always enroll in its Windows 10 Extender Security Updates (ESU) program. It won't provide significant updates, but it will offer monthly security updates from October 15, 2025, to October 13, 2026.

This gives Windows 10 users another year of crucial security support, aiming to keep them secure from malware risks. However, don't expect any non-security updates, including new features.

Users will need to enroll in the ESU program before the October 14 deadline. Initially, Microsoft charged $30 for users to sign up, but this has now changed. Now, when accessing the ESU enrollment wizard, you can use Windows Backup to sync your settings to the cloud or redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points.

However, thanks to the European Economic Area (EEA), those in Europe can enroll in the ESU program completely free. Anyone outside of this region will still need to comply with Microsoft's requirements to enroll, but using Windows Backup (up to 5GB of free OneDrive storage) or using 1,000 Microsoft Rewards in their Microsoft Rewards account (you can earn up to 500 points just by downloading the Bing smartphone app) are still free options.

It's crucial to sign up for this program before the deadline, especially for those who aren't ready to upgrade to Windows 11 yet.

Our Windows 10 end of life guide will tell you all you need to know about making the switch to Windows 11, and other options you can take to delay or avoid upgrading altogether.

Other options

We've noted the risks Windows 10 users are taking by not upgrading to Windows 11, which include being vulnerable to malware, data breaches and cyber attacks, along with performance problems and software compatibility.

So, if you're able to make the jump, there are benefits to moving to Windows 11. If you will be leaving your Windows 10 PC behind, make sure to safely get rid of your old laptop, from backing up important files to salvaging useful parts.

There is also another way to keep your Windows 10 PC alive while still using a version of Windows 11. Instead of buying a new PC for Windows 11, you can use a custom lightweight version known as Tiny11. This gets rid of Microsoft's many features and applications from Windows 11 to allow older systems to run the latest OS.

Of course, there's always the option to upgrade to a PC that runs Windows 11 from the start. The best Windows laptops today all come with Microsoft's latest OS, but if you're looking to make the big shift to a different OS altogether, like macOS or ChromeOS, our guide to the best laptops will point you in the right direction.

More from Tom's Guide

• Windows 10 is almost dead — here's my top 5 Windows 11 picks to get before the deadline
• 5 things I wish I knew about Windows 11 when I upgraded from Windows 10
• Microsoft might be cracking down on Windows 11 local account setups — here's what we know so far

Microsoft has released a new Windows Insider Preview Build 26220.6772 that could make it harder or impossible to set up Windows 11 without first signing in to a Microsoft account.

Spotted by our friends at Tom's Hardware, the patch notes for the build refer to the out-of-the-box experience (OOBE) or the setup process for a new Windows 11 installation. This update makes it harder to get around restrictions to use a local account.

The notes mentions removing "local-only commands" saying that previous "known mechanisms" for bypassing Microsoft sign-ins are being looked into.

"While these mechanisms were often used to bypass Microsoft account setup, they also inadvertently skip critical setup screens, potentially causing users to exit OOBE with a device that is not fully configured for use," the Insider blog post reads.

The note goes on to say that the build will require users to log into their Microsoft account. If not they could skip "critical setup screens." Doing so could cause the OOBE to crash. You also have to be connected to the internet during the process to ensure the "device is setup properly."

Microsoft claims this only affects direct installations and not managed devices.

Ways around

There were ways to get around a Microsoft account sign-in including using the start ms cxh:local only command, which has been removed. The company previously disabled the "bypassnro" method in the run command screen.

As far as we're aware, one route to take is to run a script-based unattended installation, but not everyone may want to do that due to privacy concerns.

We have seen comments from Tom's Hardware readers and on Reddit saying that this appears to only be for the initial installation. One person said that once they installed with a Microsoft account, they created an Admin user and deleted the original to avoid Microsoft "bloatware."

There are concerns that using a Microsoft account gives the company data while allowing it to stuff your laptop with its own programs and advertising.

Not fully here yet

Microsoft is cracking down on this ability just as Windows 10 nears the end of its life in just a week.

It's possible removing the ability to login without a Microsoft account will enable the tech giant to advertise its Microsoft 365 and OneDrive plans to users making the Windows 11 switch.

Windows Insider is Microsoft's beta testing channel that you have to sign up for to get the latest Windows builds. So it's not clear when or how long it'll take for this feature to roll out to the public releases.

It's possible that backlash to the feature could persuade Microsoft to reconsider implementing this feature.

More from Tom's Guide

• Microsoft is reportedly developing a dedicated OneDrive app for Windows 11 — here's what it looks like
• 5 things I wish I knew about Windows 11 when I upgraded from Windows 10
• I'm sorry but the ROG Xbox Ally is way too expensive — and it makes the Steam Deck look like a bargain

Microsoft is reportedly developing a dedicated OneDrive app for Windows 11 with a focus on media viewing, editing and file management.

The native app was discovered on Microsoft's servers by our friends at Windows Central. It's apparently hidden as a separate executable named OneDrive.app.exe. Launching the new app places a OneDrive icon on the Taskbar and opens a window with the OneDrive photo library.

According to Windows Central, the new OneDrive is web-based and uses a "unique design language." From images we can see that it features more rounded menu bars and drop-down menus that fit the Windows 11 aesthetic.

The OneDrive website already has an interface for organizing your files stored on Microsoft's servers. This app version appears to have that mode plus a new gallery mode, and you can switch between the two modes quickly in the app.

New features

The file management system is the same as the one you can find via the OneDrive website, but a new Copilot feature pops up when you hover over files. This tool pulls up a Copilot chat that lets you prompt Microsoft's AI assistant with queries about the file, like asking it to generate a summary without opening the file.

In gallery mode there are five tabs: Moments, Gallery, Albums, People and Favorites.

Moments is basically a memories feature that will highlight pictures taken on the current day in previous years. This is similar to the one available in the mobile OneDrive app.

The Gallery tab is totally new and features a floating menu bar when you select a photo for editing or organizing. The app appears to have some built-in editing tools, which are similar to those in the Windows Photos app.

Microsoft hasn't officially announced a new OneDrive app, so it's not immediately clear if this will replace OneDrive features that already exist. Windows 11 already has OneDrive built into the File Explorer and Photos app.

Perhaps a dedicated app is meant to consolidate those features, and the app does look good from what we've seen. Microsoft is holding a Copilot + OneDrive showcase on October 8—perhaps this new app will be revealed then.

More from Tom's Guide

• Microsoft just gave Windows 10 users a lifeline, but there's a catch — here's how to know if you qualify for free extended updates
• Get ready to 'vibe work' in Microsoft Office with new AI agents — here's how
• Microsoft just raised the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate — here’s how much you'll pay now

Microsoft will stop issuing security patches and feature updates to Windows 10 in mid-October, which means it will soon start becoming riskier to use online. Microsoft is offering an Extended Support Updates (ESU) program that anyone can join to get an extra year of Windows 10 support updates, but you have to either pay or back up your data to Microsoft's servers—unless you live in Europe.

Specifically, the European Economic Area (EEA), which encompasses the European Union (EU) as well as the Member States of the European Union (EU) and three countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA): Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein.

This week, Microsoft bowed to pressure from the Euroconsumers advocacy group to make enrolling in the Windows 10 ESU program completely free for folks in Europe. This means that anyone in the afore-mentioned regions will not have to meet Microsoft's requirements to be part of the ESU program, which are:

• Pay Microsoft a one-time fee of $30 (or roughly €25)
• Pay Microsoft 1,000 Microsoft Points (easy to earn)
• Upload your data to Microsoft's servers using Windows Backup

While these aren't the most onerous requirements, they do demand you either pay Microsoft a tithe or trust the company with your personal data—and potentially be charged a service fee if you exceed your free allotment of OneDrive space.

That's perhaps why the Euroconsumers organization (which encompasses multiple consumer advocacy and protection groups across Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, Spain and more) demanded that Microsoft make the ESU program free or else risk being out of compliance with the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA).

Euroconsumers specifically cited Article 6(6) of the DMA, which states: "The gatekeeper shall not restrict technically or otherwise the ability of end users to switch between, and subscribe to, different software applications and services that are accessed using the core platform services of the gatekeeper, including as regards the choice of Internet access services for end users."

In a published letter dated Monday (Sept 22) and brought to our attention via Windows Central, Euroconsumers representatives thanked Microsoft for acknowledging its concerns and making the Windows 10 ESU program free to enroll in for a broad swathe of Europe.

However, they also went on to state that they still have concerns about the brief one-year support period of the ESU, the shorter-than-typical supported lifespan of Windows 10 and the cost that's required for folks on older PCs that don't support Windows 11 to upgrade in order to avoid danger.

Whether Microsoft will extend the same option to folks in the U.S. remains to be seen, but I strongly doubt it. We reached out to WW Device Trackers' research manager Jitesh Ubrani to get his thoughts, and he seems to agree.

"I don’t anticipate this will happen in the US.," wrote Ubrani. "Microsoft and its partners have already experienced an uplift from consumers purchasing new PCs and by extending the deadline, they risk losing that momentum."

Here's what it means for those affected

If you live in the European Economic Area, you should be eligible for no-cost enrollment in the Windows 10 ESU.

Most, if not all, Windows 10 users should already see an offer appearing in the Update subsection of their Settings menu (navigate to Settings > Updates & Security) that you can click to begin the enrollment process.

Those in the EEA should be able to enroll at no charge, while the rest of us poor schmucks will see the three options to enroll that I've outlined above.

However, there are some other minor requirements to participate in the Windows 10 ESU, no matter where you live. You must log into it with your Microsoft account (which means you can't use a local Windows 10 account), and you must then log back in at least once every 60 days to authenticate. If you don't, your PC will be removed from the program and you'll have to re-enroll.

That said, this is still a win for folks in the EEA who aren't interested in giving more of their money, time, or data to Microsoft to keep using Windows 10 (relatively) risk-free for another year.

But remember, even if you enroll in the Windows 10 ESU, it only runs for another year. So come October of 2026, you're going to have to choose to abandon Windows 10 or live with the risks of running unsupported software.

More from Tom's Guide

• 5 things to look for when buying a laptop
• I spent a week with this AI-powered mini PC
• 5 questions to ask yourself when buying a PC

Upgrading to a new machine is exciting, but what should you do with your old Windows 10 laptop? With Windows 10 support ending next month, many users are upgrading to Windows 11 and facing this exact situation.

Throwing it in the trash isn't an option. Personal data can remain accessible on the hard drive, and laptops contain components that need responsible handling. Even deleted files can often be recovered using basic software tools.

Simply giving away or recycling a laptop without proper steps puts your personal files and passwords at risk. Meanwhile, improper disposal contributes to electronic waste Here's how to handle your old Windows 10 laptop safely and responsibly.

More from Tom's Guide

• 7 clever ways to give your old Windows 10 PC new life
• Your 'unsupported' Windows 10 PC can still run Windows 11 — here's how
• Windows 10 support ends soon — here's what to do next

Windows 10 is going away soon — or at least, official support for the long-running Microsoft operating system will be discontinued. Microsoft wants you to migrate to Windows 11, but before you do (or even if you already have), let's put your Windows 10 knowledge to the test with our fun crossword puzzle!

Whether you love Windows, prefer Mac or are a Linux user, this crossword puzzle will keep you busy as you rack your brain trying to remember all your Windows 10 history.

And it's timed, so see how quickly you can complete it while getting all the answers correct! (And try not to Google them, what's the fun in that?)

If you're still using Windows 10, here are some articles that'll help you prepare for the end of support date:

• Windows 10 End of Life guide: How to delay, avoid or survive the switch to Windows 11
• Microsoft will end Windows 10 security support in 30 days — here are your options
• Windows 10 is almost dead — here's my top 5 Windows 11 picks to get before the deadline

More from Tom's Guide

• 5 things to look for when buying a laptop, from someone who reviews them for a living
• I spent a week with this AI-powered mini PC and the buttons on the front earned it a permanent spot on my desk
• 5 questions to ask yourself when buying a PC, from someone who reviews them for a living

Windows 10 launched in 2015 and had a good ten-year run, but on October 14, 2025 Microsoft is set to pull the plug on it and stop issuing new support patches and security updates.

That's significant because once that Windows 10 end of life deadline happens, everyone still using Windows 10 PCs will become increasingly vulnerable to malware. Keeping your PC off the Internet will help protect you, but most of us can't afford that luxury these days.

If you're still using Windows 10 right now, don't worry — it's not going to suddenly stop working, and neither is your PC. But you do need to seriously think about what you want to do, because staying on Windows 10 without support from Microsoft is risky.

I know because I write about Windows and Windows PCs for a living, so I've been following this story since Microsoft first pronounced the death of Windows 10. I also wrote our Windows 11 review way back in 2021, and I think it's gotten an awful lot better in the years since it launched.

So if you are ready to make the jump to Windows 11, good news: it's quite functional and the upgrade is free, assuming your PC meets the requirements. I've also got some quick tips and advice on how to upgrade stress-free.

But if you'd rather delay for a bit while you figure out your options, or use the death of Windows 10 as an excuse to get off the Windows hype train and try an alternative, I also have some advice on how to get started.

Stay on Windows 10 for now

If you're on Windows 10 and not yet ready to deal with the hassle of switching, good news: Microsoft has an option that will let you continue getting critical Windows 10 security updates for a full year after October 2025.

It's called the Windows 10​​​​​​​ Consumer Extended Security Updates program, which is a real mouthful that basically means you can pay Microsoft for critical Windows 10 updates through October 2026. You can read more details on Microsoft's help page, but you can't actually sign up for the program there — you need to dig into your Windows 10 Settings menu and look for the notification/reminder to either upgrade to Windows 11 or enroll in the Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) program.

Choose to enroll in the program and a setup wizard will guide you through the process, but first you need to pay for access. And while Microsoft is charging money for this, that's just one of the ways you can avoid upgrading to Windows 11 for a year via the ESU. There are two other options you can take advantage of if you'd rather not pay:

Paying 1,000 Microsoft points: if you have at least 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points sitting dormant in your Microsoft Rewards account you can cash them in via the Windows 10 ESU enrollment app in exchange for a free year of critical Windows 10 updates.

if you don't, it doesn't take long to earn them — you can earn 500 Microsoft Rewards points just for downloading the Bing smartphone app, for example.

Back up your data using Windows Backup: Rather not spend anything at all? Good news: you can also get for a free year of Windows 10 extended security updates by backing up your data and settings using the new Windows Backup app.

You can use this app to back up your data and settings to Microsoft's servers. By default every Windows 10 user gets 5GB of free space, and it's possible to get more by either paying or taking advantage of free offers.

But even if you don't have enough space to back up all your data, you can at least back up your Windows settings and whatever else you can fit and still get the free year of Windows 10 ESU program updates.

Upgrading to Windows 11

If you want to stick with Windows, at some point you will need to upgrade to Windows 11. Luckily it's a pretty straightforward process, and you can follow our illustrated step-by-step guide to how to install Windows 11 on your PC for guidance.

Unfortunately, the first thing you need to do is verify your PC meets the Windows 11 system requirements to upgrade. You can do this by using Microsoft's PC Health Check app, which will tell you whether or not your PC can make the change.

If you can upgrade, I recommend you go for it since it's free. Admittedly the switch took me and most people some time to get used to, and I didn't love having to adjust to a centered Start menu and a Windows that's more AI- and ad-heavy than I'd like. That said, once I installed my favorite Windows 11 apps and mastered the essential Windows 11 keyboard shortcuts I felt leagues more comfortable.

If your PC doesn't qualify to upgrade to Windows 11, you have my sympathies. Regrettably, many people are in the same boat because Windows 11 requires your PC to have a TPM 2.0 chip (among other things). If you don't, you can replace your Windows 10 PC with some of our top Windows 11 machines or one of the best Windows laptops we recommend.

Or, if you're feeling brave, you could install a different operating system on your PC and ditch Windows altogether.

Ditch Windows altogether

If you're done with Windows in general, the death of Windows 10 is a convenient excuse to get off Microsoft's bandwagon and try life on another operating system.

Apple's macOS: The first and obvious alternative is macOS, and while I myself have never loved Macs I have to tell you that they're better than ever. Apple silicon has been a game-changer that's helped the best MacBooks run circles around most Windows laptops, and the new version of macOS is pretty fantastic.

I know because I wrote our macOS Tahoe review after reviewing the last few iterations of macOS, and I think it's the best macOS update in years. Admittedly, there's still a steep learning curve when you're transitioning from Windows, but once you get the hang of it I think you'll find lots to love about macOS.

Of course, to go with this option, you'll need to buy a completely new computer, which makes it the most expensive of the choices.

Google's ChromeOS: If your Windows 10 PC is connected to the Internet the majority of the time, installing ChromeOS Flex on it might be a nice free alternative to futzing around with Windows.

Flex is a version of ChromeOS that's lightweight (i.e. it doesn't demand much processing power, so even PCs that are 10+ years old can run it) and installable by anyone on any Windows, Mac or Linux PC. That's slightly different from the original ChromeOS, which is only available on actual Chromebooks and requires a Google security chip to function.

You can install ChromeOS Flex by downloading it direct from Google's website.

Linux: If you're just done with corporate-controlled operating systems in general, maybe it's time to try Linux. This operating system is open-source so there are all sorts of different flavors you can try, and that means there are nearly endless guides and support forums across the web full of Linux fans sharing tips and comparing distros.

If you're not familiar, a "distro" of Linux is basically a custom package of files that is used to distribute (hence "distro") a complete version of Linux. Each distro comes with different libraries, different apps, different interfaces and all sorts of unique strengths.

Because of that, Linux is especially popular with folks who manage lots of different types of machines. Some Linux distros are optimized to run on servers or for server management, for example, while others are optimized to use as little system resources as possible or to be as intuitive and easy to navigate as possible. Some Linux distros have user interfaces that look very similar to the Windows desktop, while others do not.

I haven't spent enough time testing and using varieties of Linux to give you any advice on which to choose, but since the operating system has been around since the early '90s there's a lot of options to choose from and much to learn. To get started, I suggest you follow our basic guide to how to install Linux and read up on why gaming on Linux is better (and worse) than you think.

Bottom line

Whatever path you choose, please don't ignore Microsoft's warnings if you're running Windows 10.

Because while you probably won't see your Windows 10 PC implode come 2025, I suspect the steep upgrade requirements of Windows 11 will make this one of the biggest security risks in recent memory, at least in terms of attack surface.

According to Statcounter Windows 10 is installed on nearly 50% of all Windows PCs worldwide, and if that's anywhere close to true (which sure seems likely) then we're about to see hundreds of millions of Windows 10 PCs cease receiving security updates. If people don't upgrade them to a more secure OS or take them offline, we could be in for all sorts of jacker hijinx in the years ahead.

More from Tom's Guide

• Windows 11 vs Windows 10: Everything you need to know
• Windows 10 dies in October — 3 ways to avoid upgrading to Windows 11
• Don't buy a new PC for Windows 11 just yet — this lightweight version can save your old Windows 10 PC

Windows 10 users now have less than 30 days before Microsoft stops supporting the operating system on October 14. The company recently published a reminder urging users to consider their options ahead of the switch-off date.

All editions of Windows 10, including Home, Pro, Enterprise, Education, and IoT Enterprise editions will no longer be supported, meaning they won't receive Windows' monthly security updates.

"The October 2025 monthly security update will be the last update available for these versions," Microsoft wrote. "After this date, devices running these versions will no longer receive monthly security and preview updates containing protections from the latest security threats."

To be clear, your Windows 10 laptop or desktop isn't suddenly going to crumble into ash on the morning of October 15. However, using it will become far more risky as hackers and scammers seek to exploit the lack of security support.

Thankfully, you do have options. I'm here to tell you what they are.

Option 1: Upgrade to Windows 11

Perhaps the most obvious solution to the problem is to make the jump to Windows 11. According to Statcounter, Windows 11 overtook Windows 10 as the world's most popular operating system around June of this year. But that still leaves a lot of people on Microsoft's outdated operating system.

The difficulty with this option is Windows 11 has some pretty strict requirements that your old machine might not live up to. I personally had a Microsoft Surface Book (Gen 1) that I was very fond of but couldn't meet the required specs for Windows 11.

Here's the minimum spec you'll need:

• CPU: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster with 2 or more cores on a compatible 64-bit processor or System on a Chip (SoC)
• RAM: 4GB
• Storage: 64GB of larger
• System firmware: UEFI, Secure Boot capable
• TPM: Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0
• Graphics card: Compatible with DirectX 12 or later with WDDM 2.0 driver
• Display: High definition (720p) display that is greater than 9” diagonally, 8 bits per color channel
• Internet: Windows 11 Home edition requires internet connectivity and a Microsoft account to complete device setup on first use.

For anyone familiar with Windows 10, its successor should feel quite familiar. Just make sure you check out the 15 top Windows 11 tips everyone needs to know before you get stuck in.

Option 2: Join the Windows ESU program

If you're determined to hang on to Windows 10 for a bit longer, you can join Microsoft's Windows 10 Extender Security Updates (ESU) program for an additional year of protection.

While this option grants you monthly security updates until October 13, 2026, you won't get access to any non-security updates. That means things like new features or design changes. You also won't get any technical support for your aging PC in the event of a problem.

In order to meet the requirements for the ESU program, your device will need to be running Windows 10 version 22H2 and have the KB5063709 security update. If that's the case, you can find the option to enroll by heading to Settings > Updates & Security and scrolling to the bottom.

Taking part in this program used to cost, but Microsoft is offering two ways to do it for free:

• Use Windows Backup to sync your settings to the cloud
• Redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points

The first method will be cost-free, providing you don't go over the 5GB OneDrive limit that Microsoft gives each user. Otherwise, your best bet is to use points from your Microsoft Rewards account. And don't worry if you don't have any, Microsoft will give you 500 just for downloading the Bing smartphone app on Android and iOS.

Option 3: Buy a new PC

Here's where the rubber meets the road and, all things considered, buying a new desktop PC or laptop may be the best option. The good news is, with retail events like Amazon's Big Deal Days and Black Friday right around the corner, there are plenty of excellent deals on Windows 11-ready machines for you to take advantage of.

Your first port of call should be our guide to the best Windows laptops but my colleague Darragh Murphy has also picked out 5 Windows 11 options covering different prices and form factors.

For example, if it's a laptop you're looking for, he recommends the Acer Aspire Go 15, which comes running Windows 11, costs less than $400/£400 and offers everything an average user will need from their machine.

It's got a 15-inch screen, two USB-A ports for a keyboard, mouse or USB stick, an HDMI for connecting to other monitors or a TV, a 3.5mm audio jack for headphones and a USB-C port for good measure. Even better, it comes with up to 10 hours of battery life, according to our testing.

Option 4: Switch to a Chromebook

Windows isn't the only game in town, and if you're not wedded to Microsoft's OS then picking up a Chromebook could be a good alternative. Google introduced the Chromebook Plus standard in 2023 and manufacturers duly responded with better specs, build quality and features. Yes, there's a slight price increase over a standard Chromebook, but if you're looking for a suitable Windows 10 replacement, this is what you should be looking at.

Opting for a Chromebook should be a factor if you're already using Google's suite of apps. But also, because so many other services are cloud-based (Netflix for movies or Nvidia GeForce Now for gaming to name a couple), you can get by with less storage or processing power.

The flip side is that without a strong and reliable internet connection, Chromebooks just aren't as functional as their Windows or Mac counterparts. But regardless, if you're not yet sold on Windows 11 then there are plenty of alternatives out there you can look at. I haven't even mentioned Linux yet.

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Microsoft has announced a new feature coming to Xbox controllers that steals a pretty nice feature from the upcoming Xbox Ally handheld gaming consoles. Currently in testing, long-pressing the Xbox button on a controller will open Task View; letting you switch between applications.

The feature is in preview for Windows Insiders with Windows 11 Build 2622.6682. For the unaware, Windows Insiders is Microsoft's version of beta testing Windows updates and new features.

The long-press appears to be the latest in a series of updates meant to make Windows 11 friendlier to gamers who use controllers rather than a mouse and keyboard — the culmination of which has resulted in the Xbox Ally and Ally X partnership.

"A new change we’re introducing is when you long-press the Xbox button, it will open Task View,” Microsoft’s Windows Insider team explained in its post. “Pressing and holding the Xbox button continues to turn off the game controller.”

Short-pressing the button brings up the Game Bar. This will allow you to access widgets, games and performance information.

The new feature appears to align with how Windows acts on the Xbox Ally devices; the Xbox button will launch a handheld-optimized task switcher, also with a long-press. In handhelds, it has different animations, but it's not clear from the build preview if those animations will come to Windows 11 PCs as well.

Reportedly, Windows 11 will soon let you login with just a gaming controller. Coupled with this update, you could soon exclusively interact with your gaming PC using only a controller.

As mentioned, this feature is only in preview mode for Windows Insiders at the moment. Assuming no problems, the long-press should launch for everyone else in the next few months.

More from Tom’s Guide

• Don’t miss the deadline — you need Microsoft's free security update before Windows 10 stops receiving support
• Microsoft's next big Windows 11 25H2 update isn't going to make anyone happy — here's why
• Want to keep Windows 10? Here’s the one thing you must do before the October deadline

The end of Windows 10 is nigh, with Microsoft ending support for its older OS on October 14, 2025. That's one month from now, and it means now's the time to start preparing to move to Windows 11.

While many have already started to install Microsoft's latest operating system, with Windows 11 now overtaking Windows 10 in being the most-used desktop OS according to StatCounter, there are other options out there.

You can keep Windows 10 by enrolling in Microsoft's Windows 10 Extender Security Updates (ESU) program before the deadline to keep getting security updates for another year, or try a custom, lightweight version like Tiny11 Build that can save your old PC.

Due to Windows 11's strict requirements, though, you may find yourself in the situation where your older PC won't be able to keep up. While there may be ways to upgrade your "unsupported" Windows 10 PC to run Windows 11, this isn't ideal since your PC won't be able to receive crucial security updates. If all else fails, an upgrade is needed.

The clock's ticking, and if you're ready to upgrade to Windows 11 with a new machine, I've picked our top recommendations across different devices to help you find the right PC for you — whether that be a laptop, desktop, mini PC, all-in-one or even a tablet! Most importantly, these options won't break the bank, offering plenty of value while still being able to run Microsoft's latest operating system at its finest.

Windows 11 laptop

The Acer Aspire Go 15 is a fine example of a Windows 11 laptop bargain. With its Intel Core i3-N305 CPU, the Aspire Go 15 is a solid option for day-to-day tasks, from scrolling through websites and working on documents to binge-watching shows.

Speaking of which, it's 15.6-inch (1920 x 1080) display is roomy enough to make the most of what's on screen, and it offers a surprisingly good keyboard to comfortably type away on.

It isn't anywhere near the most powerful on the market, nor does it boast any premium features (expect a blurry 720p webcam), but for under $300, it makes for the best wallet-friendly upgrade to Windows 11.

Plus, you'll find all the ports you'll need to connect extra peripherals, including two USB-A ports for a keyboard, mouse or USB stick, an HDMI for connecting to other monitors or a TV, a 3.5mm audio jack for headphones and a USB-C port for good measure. Even better, it comes with a tested 10 hours of battery life, which is a rare find in a laptop so cheap.

If you're just after a simple PC that can run Windows 11, then the Acer Aspire Go 15 makes for a fantastic pick, as it's hard to go wrong at this price. Of course, if you're after more cheap options, our list of the best budget laptops will point you in the right direction.

Windows 11 desktop

If you've already got a monitor, mouse and keyboard from your older machine and all you need is a PC to power it all, try checking out a desktop like the Dell XPS 8950.

While it may look like your average office desktop, it's actually hiding performance gamers will enjoy, especially if you find one sporting an Nvidia RTX GPU.

You're getting plenty of ports here, and that's right, it will even come with an optical drive for CDs! Not bad if you're keen on booting up some old games or programs lying around.

For those after a more gamer-ready desktop, one that will also shine for productivity, try out one of the best gaming PCs. These will cost you closer to $2,000, but a value pick like the Acer Predator Orion 5000 from $1,799 (or much less during a sale) still offers plenty of performance worth the investment.

Windows 11 Mini PC

Not only do mini PCs have a small footprint that gives your desk ample room for a clean workspace, but they also offer nearly everything a desktop does, including full-sized ports and upgradeable components. If that suits your fancy, and you want an affordable device ready for Windows 11, then the Geekom A5 2025 Edition should be your go-to choice.

At just $299 when on sale (which happens frequently), the Geekom A5 delivers an incredible array of features to take advantage of. That includes a fantastic selection of ports along its front, back and sides, such as an SD card reader, 2.5G Ethernet for wired internet, HDMI outputs and all those USB-A and USB-C ports. In fact, it even allows for a quad-monitor setup. That's right, this tiny box can support up to four monitors at once.

Even more impressively, it's easy to open up its case and upgrade its storage and memory, adding more to its in-the-box 512GB SSD and up to 64GB of RAM. Oh, and it comes in a premium, stylish rose gold to elevate your setup.

It's a fantastic pick for most, and it's great for browsing the web, office work and even some very light gaming. It's a new way of computing, and if you give it a chance, you'll find some wicked ways to use it, like pairing a pocketable mini PC and a pair of AR glasses.

Windows 11 All-in-One PC

An all-in-one PC is great for anyone who loves the idea of a permanent setup with a desktop but can't be bothered with all the other components needed to make it all work — especially when you just need a PC that can run Windows 11.

They can be a tad pricey, considering they come packed with a whole computer, a monitor and even extra accessories like a mouse and keyboard, but they offer an extremely easy way to set up a PC without taking up too much desk real estate.

For the most value-driven of the bunch, the MSI Modern AM271P 11M should be your top choice. This is an affordable and easy-to-use Windows 11 PC with the right kind of specs, even if it won't be able to play the most demanding games (but still runs light, 2D, or indie titles just fine).

This MSI Modern fortunately comes bundled with a solid keyboard and mouse, and even a 1080p webcam. And while they may not be top-grade peripherals of their kind, they will do the job they're given without issue.

But the best part of this AIO is its brilliantly colorful 27-inch (1920 x 1080) display, which is great to look at when navigating around the web or streaming shows on Netflix. It's well up for the task of multi-tasking, too, even if its Intel i7-1165G7 CPU is getting a tad old.

It was priced at over $1,000 before, but these days, you can find one for well under that. If that's a tad too aged and you're willing to spend more, then I'll point you in the direction of the HP OmniStudio X 32, although expect to pay a tad more for this.

Windows 11 2-in-1

Your Windows 10 PC may not be able to upgrade to Windows 11, but you'll find a tablet can! Well, some of them, and that's where 2-in-1 laptops shine. Combining the easy usability of a tablet with a touchscreen and the productivity of a laptop, you're getting the best of both worlds here.

We particularly like the Microsoft Surface Pro 11, sporting a mighty Snapdragon X-series chip that kicked off the boom of Windows 11 Copilot+ PCs. So, you know this laptop will leave you in good hands when it comes to shifting to Windows 11.

It's arguably the best version of what a Windows 2-in-1 laptop can be, and even touts an OLED display if you pay a tad extra. It's a tablet first, as the fantastic Surface Pro Flex keyboard isn't bundled in, but there are deals out there (especially during sales) that will throw it in as well.

Regardless, this is for those who love to flick between shows and websites at a touch, along with being able to put your creative mind to work by doodling on it, and easily transition to work by adding a keyboard and bringing all the benefits of a touchscreen.

Believe it or not, these 2-in-1 laptops can also be made to game on the fly, and no other says that like the Asus ROG Flow Z13. It comes with a hefty cost at over $2,000, but imagine combining a gaming laptop with a gaming handheld? Now that's a device well worth checking out.

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With Microsoft officially ending support for Windows 10 on October 14, older PCs that don't meet Windows 11 requirements will be left to dust. But a custom Tiny11 Builder is giving unsupported computers another chance.

An updated version of Tiny11 Builder has been released, a lightweight, custom Windows 11 build that removes many of Microsoft's features and applications to allow older systems that don't meet Windows 11's strict requirements to run the latest operating system.

Developed by NTDEV and available for use via GitHub, the Tiny11 Builder is a PowerShell script designed to strip Windows 11 of bloat while keeping the OS serviceable on systems. As noted, it can be used on "any Windows 11 release," and that includes the latest Windows 11 version 25H2 set to arrive for all users soon (even though this update doesn't come with any new features).

With Windows 10 on its way out, this offers users another alternative to keep using their old PC or laptop without needing to upgrade their computer. Of course, using Tiny11 Builder can be technical for some, but NTDEV has outlined detailed instructions on how to get it working.

In the updated version, Tiny11 removes Copilot, the latest Outlook client, Microsoft Teams packages and plenty more apps, with the developer stating that it even adds "registry keys to proactively disable Copilot and prevent app re-installations." For those who aren't fussed with Microsoft's Copilot+ AI features and the like, this would make for a solid option.

As for the other apps Tiny11 Builder takes away, here's a look at the bloat that it strips:

• Clipchamp
• News
• Weather
• Xbox
• GetHelp
• GetStarted
• Office Hub
• Solitaire
• PeopleApp
• PowerAutomate
• ToDo
• Alarms
• Mail and Calendar
• Feedback Hub
• Maps
• Sound Recorder
• Your Phone
• Media Player
• QuickAssist
• Internet Explorer
• Tablet PC Math
• Edge
• OneDrive

With the removal of apps and a smaller final ISO file size, Tiny11 aims to make upgrading to Windows 11 far simpler without all the bloatware — at least, for those who don't require Microsoft's suite of pre-installed apps and features.

While NTDEV has also released a Tiny11 Core Builder, this is explained to be "designed for a quick and dirty development testbed," so more for testing than anything else. Specifically, the developer notes, "it's not suitable for regular use due to its lack of serviceability."

Preparing for the end of Windows 10

The end of Windows 10 is nigh, and while Windows 11 has now overtaken Windows 10 in being the most-used desktop OS, according to StatCounter, this is only by a small margin. Many still rely on Windows 10 on older PCs, but at least alternative solutions like Tiny11 Builder have come to help those who are unable (or don't want to) to upgrade their PC just to run Windows 11.

There are ways to upgrade your 'unsupported' Windows 10 PC to run Windows 11, but this runs the risk of your PC not receiving security support or updates.

However, for those who want to keep Windows 10, Microsoft is offering its Windows 10 Extender Security Updates (ESU) program that provides an extra year of support for Windows 10 systems. Enrolling in the program needs to be done before October 14, 2025, and security updates only last until October 13, 2026.

Still, it's another way to keep the inevitable upgrade to Windows 11 at bay (unless Microsoft changes its mind down the line), especially for those who are more accustomed to Windows 10.

If you are considering making the move to Windows 11 and require a new PC to do so, the best budget laptops can help make the transition more wallet-friendly. Otherwise, alternatives like Tiny11 may just be the solution you're after.

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The end of Windows 10 is coming, as Microsoft is officially ceasing support for the OS on October 14, 2025. But for those not ready to move on to Windows 11, there's a way to get an extra year of security updates before the operating system is put to rest.

With Microsoft's Windows 10 Extender Security Updates (ESU) program, users can get a year of protection after the deadline. This will offer monthly security updates from October 15, 2025 to October 13, 2026, and is crucial in keeping your PC secure from malware — as Microsoft itself notes.

While the ESU program will give Windows 10 users another year of support, keep in mind that it doesn't include "new features, non-security updates, design change requests or technical support," Microsoft states.

If you still need to find out if your laptop is equipped to handle the jump to Windows 11, follow our simple walkthrough below to find the answer.

Fortunately, while Microsoft initially wanted to charge users to enroll in the ESU program, there are now two other free options to choose from. That said, the $30 charge to cover 10 PCs on one Microsoft account is still an option.

So, want to keep using Windows 10? Find out how to enroll in the ESU program for free. It's the last thing to do before finally waving goodbye to Windows 10.

What is the Extended Security Update program?

Microsoft's Extended Security Update (ESU) program is a way for Windows 10 users to receive critical and important security updates for the OS after, after it ends support on October 14.

"They are not intended as a long-term solution, but rather as a temporary bridge to stay secure while one migrates to a newer, supported platform. It includes Critical* and/or Important* security updates up to three years after the product's End of Extended Support date," Microsoft says.

In the case of Windows 10, this will only last for a year until October 13, 2026, although this may be extended further down the line.

This isn't the first time Microsoft has used this extension program, as it was offered during previous Windows upgrades, albeit only for enterprise customers and big businesses. Now, personal users can enroll in the program for an extra year Windows 10 support.

How to stay on Windows 10

To make sure your Windows 10 PC meets the requirements for the ESU program, it will need to be running Windows 10 version 22H2 and the KB5063709 security update.

Since the enrollment is available to all Windows 10 users that's running the latest build of the OS (not just Windows Insiders), all you need to do is pick an option to enroll in the program. Take note, this will need to be done before October 14, as doing this after means your PC will be unprotected.

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Microsoft's Windows 11 25H2 update is officially coming, and if you were expecting a major OS upgrade or new features as with its 24H2 update, you may be sorely disappointed.

Announced in a blog post, Microsoft has released Windows 11 version 25H2 in the Release Preview Channel, meaning it'll be available on general release to all users very soon. However, the tech giant isn't bringing any new features with the update. In fact, it's removing some.

With Windows 11 25H2, Microsoft will use a shared servicing branch with version 24H2, meaning they will "share the same new features and enhancements." While sharing the same platform makes upgrading to 25H2 a faster process, there won't be any fresh features to note — seeing as it will be "delivered as an enablement package" rather than a big OS overhaul.

Microsoft also states it's removing two features in the next update, including PowerShell 2.0 (a command-line shell) and Windows Management Instrumentation command-line (WMIC). If you're an everyday user, you won't hugely miss this, but if you're a power user, you might not be scrambling to install the update.

At the very least, the shared platform between 25H2 and 24H2 means you can expect minimal changes to apps, settings and more when making the update, which should make for a hassle-free move to the next version. Plus, it's likely that version 24H2 will still be supported and get upcoming features, as with 25H2.

Windows 11 25H2 should be available to all users this fall, sometime in late September or October. However, it's available to try now for those in the Windows Insider Release Preview Channel, too. That said, without any big features to try out, I can imagine most of you won't be rushing to get the update.

More features down the line

This doesn't mean more features won't be coming down the line, as Microsoft often releases major updates to its OS throughout the year.

That includes the recent Windows 11 AI features that arrived earlier this summer. It included a new AI agent in Windows Settings that allows users to find and change settings by describing what they need, a Relight feature in the Photos app to adjust lighting with just a click, more tools in Click To Do and a perfect screenshot feature in the Snipping Tool.

More features are sure to come down the line for version 25H2, but it's not the big update with new features we've come to usually expect. Perhaps Microsoft is saving major features for its rumored Windows 12 update, but only time will tell what this OS will deliver.

In the meantime, Microsoft will likely be putting focus on shifting users to Windows 11, as Windows 10 will die this fall.

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Microsoft’s August 2025 Patch is not the company's finest moment. It's already had to patch over 100 vulnerabilities, including one zero-day flaw for an exploit in Windows Kerberos. Users claim various streaming apps like OBS and NDI Tools have also tanked in performance since the update rolled out. Now Microsoft has confirmed the latest update is to blame for widespread issues with severe lag and stuttering. While there are a few potential workarounds to try, you may have to wait a while for a more permanent solution.

"Severe stuttering, lag, and choppy audio/video might occur when using NDI (Network Device Interface) for streaming or transferring audio/video feeds between PCs after installing the August 2025 Windows security update," Microsoft said in a post to the issue tracker for Windows updates, as first spotted by Bleeping Computer. NDI, a protocol used to transmit high-definition video over a computer network with low latency and high quality, is widely used in video production and broadcasting. According to the company, "the issue affects streaming apps, including OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) and NDI Tools, especially when 'Display Capture' is enabled on the source PC."

These issues crop up after installing the KB5063878 and KB5063709 security updates on Windows 11 24H2 users and Windows 10 21H2/22H2 devices, respectively. On Friday, the NDI team confirmed that traffic dropped after the buggy Windows update rolled out. The problem appears to be tied to the Reliable User Datagram Protocol (RUDP), the default communication mechanism for NDI, as performance issues occur "only with RUDP connections, while traffic sent or received using UDP or Single-TCP remains unaffected."

Potential workarounds

These recent issues, though they impact a relatively small portion of users, underscore the uphill battle Microsoft faces when updating its popular Windows software. Microsoft is still investigating the bug to address the root cause, but in the meantime, NDI has offered some workarounds that can help mitigate the problem.

You'll need to change the NDI Receive Mode to use TCP or UDP instead of RUDP. To do that, just follow these steps:

1. Download and install the free NDI Tools pack.
2. Launch the NDI Access Manager app.
3. Go to the Advanced tab.
4. Change Receive Mode to Single TCP or UDP, then press OK.
5. Repeat on any other affected computers.

If that doesn't work, you can try uninstalling the Windows Security. Just open the Settings panel, navigate to Windows Update > Update History > Uninstall Updates, and click Uninstall on Security Update for Microsoft Windows (KB5063878 or KB5063709).

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If you’re still running Windows 10, Microsoft just released a free update that should let you enroll in Extended Support Updates, which will run through October 2026. This means that when security updates end for Windows 10 in October this year, you’ll get an extra year of support.

The mandatory KB5063709 update enables you to see a new option labeled “Enroll in Extended Support Updates” that you can find in the Windows Update page. From there, you’ll find two options for extending security support.

• Spend 1,000 Microsoft Rewards to use a local account; this cannot be refunded or reversed
• You can pay $30 to cover as many as 10 PCs on a single Microsoft account
• Back up your data on Microsoft servers.

This was initially confirmed by Microsoft in July in a blog post noting “individuals will begin to see an enrollment wizard through notifications and in Settings, making it simple to select the best option for you and enroll in ESU directly from your personal Windows 10 PC.”

Microsoft goes on to say that the extension is in place to “support” users as they upgrade to a new PC, one that would presumably have Windows 11.

“The Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) program is designed to keep your current Windows 10 PC protected after support ends—helping you stay secure during the transition.”

Microsoft set high bars for upgrading from Windows 10 to 11, which caused many to have problems actually updating. Recently, the company revealed the reasons why you may have struggled to upgrade while providing resolutions.

Surprisingly, as we get closer to the deadline, data from StatCounter shows the global share of people using Windows 10 has increased since June 2025, when Microsoft announced the ESU support option. And Windows 11 use has decreased, where the lines were moving in the opposite direction as recently as May.

As of this writing, Windows 10’s market share stands at 42.99%, compared to 53.39% for Windows 11.

Windows 11 update

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