Over a decade ago, when we first made the transition to USB-C, cable manufacturers promised things would be different. Sure, we no longer had to worry about which side of our cables we plugged in, but now we’re facing a completely different problem: there’s no easy way to know how fast (and capable) our cables really are.

At least with USB-A to USB-C cables, the larger end often gives us some insights. For instance, USB 2.0 cables are black, USB 3.0 ones are blue, and the less aptly named USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 ones are red. With USB-C to USB-C cables, though, it’s a different story entirely.

While some manufacturers label the ends of their cables with their respective specs, this isn’t always the case. And depending on where you buy your cables, those labels might not even be accurate. For this reason, some people end up buying dedicated cable testers to see whether that high-speed USB-C cable is actually as fast as it claims to be.

Just when I was considering buying one of these devices to test my own cables, I stumbled upon an open-source Mac app that can do the exact same thing for free. Here’s what I learned after testing 10 of my own USB-C to USB-C cables, and why I ended up paying the full $13 for the pro version of the WhatCable app.

Branded, but untested

Although I’ll occasionally order several cables at a time online, for the most part, I’ve amassed a huge collection just by keeping the ones that come with the various devices I review. I have a few generic, rubber ones I use in more complex desk setups — mainly behind monitors and tucked under my desk — but over the years, I’ve really come to appreciate braided cables a whole lot more.

Braided cables not only look better, but they also feel more premium. They’re easier to manage too, since they tend to hold their shape when laid flat across a desk. However, they do have one major downside: a total lack of information.

With rubber cables, manufacturers will often print their specs directly on the cord itself, where there is more room for text. You see this a lot with HDMI 2.1 cables, which are frequently labeled “Ultra High Speed” to signify they can handle the high bandwidth needed for VRR and 4K/120Hz gaming. Some companies even go the extra mile and include extra details on these labels, like whether or not the cable supports Ethernet, or even the brand name.

When it comes to braided cables, though, you’re lucky to get a brand name stamped on either connector end. Even if they do list specs, it’s usually just a brief note like “5A” for 5 amps or “10 Gbps” for 10 gigabits per second. Then again, this kind of labeling is few and far between; only my cables from Fasgear actually have it.

So what’s a tech nerd to do? Well, test them, of course. Dedicated USB cable testers can be found for under $10 if you don’t mind a bare PCB, but they can easily run over $100 for premium models with a proper case and a built-in display.

I was honestly considering picking one up until I saw a few news stories about WhatCable. Given that it's open-source and completely free to use, I decided to test it out for myself before investing in yet another gadget for my home office.

After downloading and installing the app on my MacBook, I grabbed a few of my favorite braided USB-C to USB-C cables — some labeled and some completely blank — and decided to see what they were actually capable of.

Plug it in, plug it in

When I first booted up WhatCable, I was greeted with four sections in the app which correlate with the three Thunderbolt 5 ports and the MagSafe charging port on the MacBook Pro 16-inch M5 Pro I’m currently using.

Of course, depending on which of the best MacBooks you have, the sections that show up will vary. I haven’t installed WhatCable on my Mac mini M4 yet, but I’m curious to know whether or not the extra USB-C and USB-A ports on the Ugreen Mac Mini M4 Dock & Stand I’m currently using will show up in the app. If you’re as curious as I am about this, let me know in the comments below.

It’s worth noting that even with cables plugged into your Mac, those sections will be blank until you plug in another device on the other end. Since I’m in the process of testing out the TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro smartphone, I decided to plug that in first and see what WhatCable had to say about the cable connecting the two.

Before the app can give you all the details on the cable you’re currently using, you will have to “Allow” the accessory in question — in this case the smartphone — to connect first.

With that taken care of, I learned that the retractable, 100W Ugreen USB-C to USB-C cable I had connected is only rated at USB 2.0. It can carry 100W of power just like the circular case the cable retracts into says on the side though.

From the get-go with WhatCable, I was very impressed by all the details the app managed to glean from this cable and how it explained them to me. For instance, this USB 2.0 only cable has a max data transfer rate of 480 Mbps and isn’t capable of “high-speed data” transfer.

Since the NXTPAPER 70 Pro is a budget phone after all, for my next test, I decided to bump up the capabilities of the device on the other end. For this, I plugged in my Lenovo Legion Tab 3 which I know features USB 3.2 as well as DisplayPort Alt Mode over USB-C since I was able to use it seamlessly with a pair of the best smart glasses from Xreal. The untested variable here was one of Apple’s own white braided USB-C to USB-C cables that I can’t remember which device it came with.

With the two connected, WhatCable correctly identified the cable as a USB 2.0 one and it even identified my tablet by its model name, the Legion Tab Y700. One term I hadn’t heard before trying out this app, despite being about as immersed in tech as you can be, is E-marker.

Apparently, this is a tiny, 1mm² microchip that’s embedded directly into the plastic or metal housing of a USB-C connector. Like a digital passport, these E-marker chips allow the USB-C Power Delivery controllers inside the ports of your laptop and other devices to know exactly what a particular cable is capable of. That way, they send the correct amount of power or data and don’t overload the device on the other end.

Even with the free version of WhatCable, you can actually drill down further into each section to learn more about the cable you’re testing. By clicking “Show technical details” you can see all of the supported protocols and standards the current connection can handle.

For instance here, while the cable itself is bottlenecked at USB 2.0 speeds, the underlying port architecture supports USB2, USB3, power delivery, and video out over DisplayPort. So not only can you use this app to test your cables, but you can also get a clear picture of exactly what your Mac's ports are capable of at the same time.

Cables may be faster than they appear

For my next round of cable testing, I decided to completely switch up devices. I started with a 1TB M.2 drive I’m using inside this SSD enclosure from Ugreen. Given its rated for speeds up to 10 Gbps, I figured it would be an ideal companion for cable testing and it absolutely was.

In the WhatCable app, that Fasgear cable — remember the one with 5A, 10Gbps written on the connector? — actually turned out to be as fast as the company claimed. Surprisingly though, according to the app, the E-marker inside it didn’t have a vendor ID, though apparently this is common with genuine cables. Or maybe Fasgear was too humble to take credit for it, I guess we'll never know.

Next up, I decided to test a cable that wasn’t labeled, but I did know its full capabilities based on the description on the box. Alongside its Vagabond mobile game controller, Elo recently sent over all of the accessories to go with it, including the company’s Link Thunderbolt 4 cable which can deliver up to 240W of power and 40 Gbps of data.

I’ve tried it out with other devices and it definitely works as advertised. However, when I used it to connect a Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller to my MacBook, it only reached USB 2.0 speeds in WhatCable.

You see, in this case, it was the controller and not the cable that was the bottleneck. While the console hardware itself handles modern high-speed connections, the Switch 2 Pro Controller internally relies on basic USB 2.0 protocols to process your inputs. Since game controllers prioritize low latency over raw bandwidth, the hardware only needs a tiny data pipe to pass along button presses to your console.

If you decide to download WhatCable and run into a similar situation where you know you have a high-speed cable but you’re seeing slower speeds while testing, I’d recommend connecting a different device. After I swapped out that controller for my Legion tablet, the app instantly registered the Elo Link cable as a high-speed one.

I learned so much testing the power delivery and data transfer speeds of those 10 cables that I decided to spend the $13 on the pro version of WhatCable and I’m glad I did.

Not only do you get additional insights like live power monitoring but you can also add the various cables you test to the app and give them names. This way, you get a timeline of when that cable was last used, what it was connected to and whether or not you ran into any issues while using it.

No more second guessing

Over the years, I’ve accumulated a massive collection of cables. From USB-A to USB-C, HDMI to DisplayPort and even some less common ones like USB Type-B and Micro-USB B, I have a lot of cables — and while I try to get rid of the slower and less full-featured ones when I can, I still have too many.

A few years ago, I decided to repurpose a hanging, over-the-door shoe rack to house them all and before I started adding Thunderbolt ones and longer, braided DisplayPort cables to the mix, it worked quite well. Now though, I’m due for a cable audit.

While I plan on coming up with a solution that’s a bit more elegant than hanging them in various compartments over the back of my closet door, I also want to separate the wheat from the chaff and only keep the best of the best cables. To do that, I need to test them all.

Although I’ll probably end up buying a standalone tester for some of those more obscure cables and the video ones, WhatCable has done a lot of the groundwork for me. At the same time, it’s made me realize that testing cables isn’t nearly as difficult or time consuming as I thought it would be back when I first looked into getting a dedicated cable tester.

If you’ve ever plugged in your smartphone, tablet or laptop and seen less than ideal charging or data transfer speeds and you have a Mac, you owe it to yourself to give this open-source app a try. I’m glad I did because when it comes to USB-C to USB-C cables, I’ll never have to doubt their capabilities again.

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The macOS Golden Gate public beta is now live, giving you a chance to check out all the new features coming to the best MacBooks.

Expected to launch this Fall, macOS Golden Gate primarily focuses on updating Apple Intelligence and Siri, with the latter now officially called Siri AI. You don’t get many new features, but improvements to Liquid Glass’s readability, easier customization, and smoother performance make for an overall better experience.

While Apple’s public betas are generally more stable than the developer builds, it might still be buggy and could cause issues for your Mac. I’ve never experienced serious issues using any of these betas over the years, but it’s worth being cautious. With that said, here’s how to download the macOS Golden Gate public beta.

How to download the macOS Golden Gate developer beta

Downloading the macOS Golden Gate public beta is pretty simple. First, enroll your Apple ID in Apple's Beta Program and make sure your Mac is compatible. Here's the full list of Macs that can install and run macOS Golden Gate:

• MacBook Neo (2026)
• MacBook Air with Apple silicon (2020 and later)
• MacBook Pro with Apple silicon (2020 and later)
• iMac with Apple silicon (2021 and later)
• Mac mini with Apple silicon (2020 and later)
• Mac Studio with Apple silicon (2022 and later)
• Mac Pro with Apple silicon (2023 and later)

That’s all that’s required to download the macOS Golden Gate public beta. Your Mac will restart once the download finishes. After that, you can start trying out all the new features. Depending on your connection speed, the download might take a few minutes, so be patient.

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It’s official — the macOS 27 Golden Gate public beta has just launched, and with it we’re getting a slew of new features! Not that you’d know, because back at WWDC, Apple couldn’t stop talking about the new Siri AI that’s deeply integrated into everything here.

So while I’ll leave the hands-on impressions of the OS and its big features to my boy Tony, I want to tell you about the lesser known additions that you should definitely be trying out first. Because this new version is about a lot more than just AI.

Refining Liquid Glass - improving the UI

Let’s be real. Liquid Glass had a rough start. Personally, I thought it was kind of cool, but I can totally understand how it impacted readability and consistency of design across the OS. Apple’s addressed this with some small but impactful changes that bring it all together nicely.

First, there’s now a Liquid Glass slider to adjust how see-through the glassy elements are — great for improving legibility. Then there’s uniformity across macOS toolbars for more logical use, and the rounded corners of all the app windows match up now.

Like I said, it’s all small tweaks. But put them all together (as well as smoother animations for Mission Control and Spaces), and the end result is a nicer-feeling UI to get around.

Faster AirDrop

There’s been general performance upgrades across the board, as it seems Apple has gone all “Snow Leopard” on this version by looking under the hood and tweaking the efficiency of tasks.

But the real feature here is that AirDrop is going to get a turboboost. How much faster? I don’t know — but by optimizing the underlying network protocols, wireless file transfers are speedier. For someone who has a Final Cut Pro workload between my iPhone and MacBook Pro, this is huge for high capacity files.

Beyond this, Apple says you can look forward to faster app opens and JavaScript improvements to make Safari browsing a whole lot smoother. Speaking of Safari…

Safari’s big upgrade

Safari is catching up with the likes of Chrome and Opera with some AI-powered features like automatic tab organization, but Apple’s browser facelift goes deeper than that.

First up is probably a significant one for those who has gig tickets to buy or want to wait for a price drop. With Notify Me, you can set some conditions to get a notification whenever the content on a webpage changes.

Second, with a little help from Apple Intelligence, you can use natural language to describe a browser extension, and Safari will build it. So whether it’s a Recipe Keeper like in Apple’s example or maybe a Tom’s Guide story feed, you’re not limited to the developer range of extensions.

Oh, and shout-out to one of the underrated game changers here — swipe down to refresh. Just like in iOS, you can scroll up on a webpage to trigger a page refresh, and bringing that intuitive piece of UI design to the desktop experience feels so natural in a “why didn’t they think of that before” kind of way.

Drawing in Messages, Notes and Freeform

On iPhone and iPad, you can draw directly into Notes and Freeform, and this feature is now (finally) coming to Mac too. Using the touchpad as a canvas, you can sketch out your mini masterpiece — plus this drawing app is also being added directly into iMessage too for a huge upgrade over the handwriting feature you used to get.

Now, this is definitely an understated feature that you may only use once or twice (depending on what your use cases are of course), but I see this as something different. Apple has snuck in a couple of things that I think may be setting the stage for some new devices coming in.

Having expanded drawing capabilities in your OS? To me, that feels like something more purpose-built for a touchscreen device…maybe the MacBook Ultra?

iPhone mirroring that teases a foldable

And this is the other feature that I believe is teasing a new device. iPhone mirroring has been one of the biggest features since its debut for me — giving me rapid access to my phone’s apps without needing to break my focus on my MacBook screen to pull out another device (and inevitably go down a TikTok wormhole).

With Golden Gate, you can watch DRM-protected video on your big screen now (Netflix content for example), and you can get into your iPhone’s Control Center.

But biggest of all, you can resize the app’s screen to be bigger and see more content on the screen.

Now again, this seems to be a weird addition. Why put that demand for responsive app design in iPhone mirroring? Well, you may have heard about this new foldable iPhone Ultra coming up…this seems too convenient to me.

Outlook

All-in-all, this isn’t necessarily the most feature-packed macOS update, but Golden Gate does sharpen some things up while also giving us what I feel are some future hardware teases.

These alongside a complete rebuild in the way search works across Spotlight, Photos and Mail, the tweaks here will be felt throughout by both casual and pro users alike.

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The public beta for macOS 27, also known as macOS Golden Gate, is here! While this update isn’t as monumental as macOS Sequoia, it delivers a slew of AI features and smoother overall performance, making the best MacBooks more personal and streamlined.

I’ve had the developer beta of macOS Golden Gate installed for a month, with the latest version close to what the public beta is offering. While the beta is still very much a work in progress, I’ve had a smooth time using it and testing out its new features.

If you’re signed into the (free) Apple beta software program, you can try the public beta of macOS Golden Gate right now. Here are my thoughts on the beta and the key features worth checking out.

macOS Golden Gate public beta hands-on: Supported Macs

The Intel era is over, as macOS Golden Gate doesn’t run on those older machines. Here is a complete list of Macs that support Golden Gate.

• MacBook Neo (2026)
• MacBook Air with Apple silicon (2020 and later)
• MacBook Pro with Apple silicon (2020 and later)
• iMac with Apple silicon (2021 and later)
• Mac mini with Apple silicon (2020 and later)
• Mac Studio with Apple silicon (2022 and later)
• Mac Pro with Apple silicon (2023 and later)

macOS Golden Gate public beta hands-on: Features

Most of macOS Golden Gate’s new features center around updated versions of Siri and Apple Intelligence. These are the ones that have stood out the most during my testing.

Siri AI

There is now a dedicated Siri AI app for macOS Golden Gate that functions similarly to chatbots like ChatGPT and Google Gemini. This app is also available on iPadOS 27 and iOS 27, and is arguably the biggest new feature for the Apple devices that support it.

You can access the Siri AI app either by clicking it in the Dock or in the Menu bar. You can also bring it up by pulling up Spotlight. Doing this brings up a dedicated chat window where you can ask Siri AI questions or just talk to it about whatever’s on your mind. Again, this functions exactly like the chatbots you’re already familiar with.

And since Siri AI is now baked into the operating system, it can do more than just chat. For example, if you’re looking at a schedule, you’ll see an “add to calendar” button appear. I’ve even had this happen when I suggest a date/time to meet with friends. When you right-click on folders, files, or apps, you’ll often see an “Ask Siri” option at the very top, where you can begin asking questions about whatever you’re highlighting.

You can even create Shortcuts by typing or speaking what you want instead of manually building complications. While I wouldn’t call this vibe coding, it can feel that way since you’re using natural language.

For those in the Apple ecosystem, Siri AI can be more useful than other chatbots because it’s integrated into the system. However, third-party integrations are still a work in progress, so Siri AI’s usability for you might be limited if you use Google apps like Gmail, since Siri AI doesn’t work with them (yet).

Liquid Glass slider

If you’re not a fan of the Liquid Glass UI, you’ll be happy to know there’s now a slider to adjust its opacity. It lets you dial the effect up or down to your liking, and I’m surprised it took this long to implement it this way.

Beyond the slider, you’ll notice that more complex background visuals appear more diffused, which improves text readability (which was a big issue for some). The edges of icons are also more pronounced, so they stand out more from the background. All app windows now have a uniform corner radius to help them pop out as well.

I've never had a problem with Liquid Glass because I think it’s an interesting visual effect. That said, I’m glad that folks can now fine-tune it to their liking. The slider is especially neat because it’s easy to use and makes it clear how much of a difference there is when you go from one extreme to the other.

Spatial Reframing

Spatial Reframing isn’t exclusive to macOS Golden Gate, but since the Reframe tool stole the show at WWDC, it’s a feature worth spotlighting if you take a lot of photos.

As its name suggests, Reframe lets you reframe existing photos and adjust the perspective to your liking. This can be especially handy if you need to take photos in a hurry, as you can come back to them later to fix them.

After you select Reframe in the new Tools option in Photos’ editing mode, Apple Intelligence scans the photo you’ve selected. After that, you can pull your finger across the touchpad to change the perspective. Sliders on the side also give you more precise control over the angle, orientation, or size. When you’re done, the AI shifts things around to fill in any blanks.

This isn’t a feature I use often since I like photos in their original form, even if they’re not perfect. That said, I can’t knock the results, as Reframe does an excellent job of living up to its name. And to be fair, the changes made don’t radically alter the image — you just get a better version of what you’ve already snapped.

macOS Golden Gate public beta hands-on: Outlook

Apple Intelligence didn’t live up to the hype after it was first announced, but it’s now living up to its potential on Macs and the other Apple devices it can run on. If you’re a big AI user already, then macOS Golden Gate could arguably be a significant update. I imagine Siri AI will only improve between now and the OS’ expected fall launch.

Other features such as the more customizable Liquid Glass UI and Spatial Reframing might not be monumental game-changers, but they’re nice additions regardless. Apple also said there’s improved performance on devices using the upcoming operating systems, but during my time with macOS Golden Gate, I haven’t seen any noticeable improvements or hiccups on that front.

Apple’s new operating systems are still being worked on, so things could change before the official launch. I’ll have a full review for you then, but based on my experience with macOS Golden Gate, I’ll say that the new features are a step in the right direction.

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Good news for those of you who have yet to upgrade to Windows 11: You're going to get another year of reprieve.

Microsoft officially ended support for Windows 10 in October 2025, but you could sign up for the Extended Security Update (ESU) program, which will keep support going through October 13, 2026.

At that point, support was going to be cut off for good. However, that's changed thanks to a quiet change Microsoft introduced this week and spotted by GSMArena. The new end date has been extended to October 12, 2027.

RAM crisis relief

I can't find anything beyond the FAQ page, but Microsoft hasn't really promoted this update. The company is desparate for people to upgrade to Windows 11, something users have avoided because of core problems with the operating system.

Still, this is extra breathing room for people who haven't upgraded. Plus, it alleviates the need to purchase a new laptop, just as every tech company is raising prices due to the ongoing memory shortage.

PC makers have been ringing the warning bell since early 2026, with Lenovo saying "Buy it soon as you can" in February.

Apple just raised prices on its laptops and Microsoft hiked Xbox console prices for the third time in a year while blaming the memory shortage this week.

With purchasing power becoming untenable, even a year is a nice break.

How to sign up for the ESU

To sign up for the ESU program, your device needs to run Windows 10, version 22H2 Home, Professional, Pro Education or Workstations edition. It also needs to have the latest Windows update installed.

You need to have a Microsoft account that is an administrator.

There's no cost if you sync your PC settings. You can also redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points or make a one-time $30 purchase.

To get the ESU running you can go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. If you meet the requirements you should see an Enroll Now button for ESU.

You can extend the ESU license on up to 10 devices.

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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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The macOS 27 or macOS Golden Gate developer beta is now live, and I’ve begun testing out some of the available features that this upcoming (and unfinished) operating system has to offer.

We don’t get a substantial update as we did with last year’s macOS 26. Instead, this year’s update is mostly focused on Siri AI and Apple Intelligence. While I’ve yet to try the former, the latter offers nifty tricks for Mac users to try out.

Keeping in mind that this is a developer beta and features are subject to change, here are my early thoughts on macOS Golden Gate and some features that stand out.

Spatial Reframing

The new Reframe tool stole the show at WWDC, and it’s a lot of fun to use. The feature is self-explanatory: you can take existing photos and adjust the perspective to your liking. Basically, if you’re not happy with a photo’s angle, you can change that.

After selecting Reframe in the new Tools option in Photos’ editing mode, the AI scans your photo. When that’s done, you can pull your finger across the touchpad to change the perspective. There are also sliders on the side if you prefer more precise control over the angle, orientation, or size. Once you’re happy with the result, the AI shifts things around to fill in any blanks.

While you can argue that you’re not seeing the real image after you’ve effectively doctored it, the result isn’t radically different from the original. If you don’t worry about getting a perfect picture the first time around, Reframe can definitely remove that stress since you can always come back to your photo later.

Liquid Glass slider

I didn’t mind the Liquid Glass UI as much as others, but it has certainly been a controversial element introduced to iPhones, iPads, and Macs with their respective updates last year. Now, Apple has updated Liquid Glass so you can tailor it to your liking.

For example, there’s a new preference slider that lets you dial in the exact intensity of the Liquid Glass effect. You can go from highly transparent to more opaque. More complex background visuals are more diffuse, increasing text readability. The edges of icons are more pronounced, so they stand out from the background, and all app windows now have a uniform corner radius.

As before, I don’t mind Liquid Glass, but the relatively subtle updates do help windows, icons, and text pop out more.

Siri AI on Mac

This feature isn’t available in the developer beta yet for me, but Siri AI on macOS 27 should be a pretty big deal. This is especially true if you’re used to using chatbots like ChatGPT or Google Gemini, as Siri AI now functions like them.

As Mark Spoonauer said when he saw the new Siri AI in action on a Mac, you can access it by simply pulling up Spotlight. When you begin typing, Spotlight knows which questions should go to Siri rather than launching apps. Siri will bring up answers in a new window, where you can continue the conversation if you need more in-depth information.

It can even go beyond simple conversations. For example, if you’re looking at a schedule, an “add to calendar” button will appear, letting you do just that. With AI agents being all the rage these days, it makes sense for Siri to function more like one.

If what Apple showed us is anything to go by, Siri AI could be used for more than just asking questions. Of course, I’d have to go hands-on to see whether Siri AI works with other apps outside the Apple ecosystem, since Mark noted it doesn’t work with Gmail at the moment.

Outlook

We should get a better sense of what macOS Golden Gate and the other Apple operating systems can truly do once Siri AI begins rolling out to those who signed up for it.

Beyond that, I like the refinements being made to Liquid Glass, and Spatial Reframing should be a game-changer for folks who love taking photos. These aren't monumental changes, but I like them for what they provide right now.

Again, keep in mind that I’m testing a developer beta of macOS 27, and things are likely to change between now and the full release this fall. I’m going to keep using it and will update you all on any new features it introduces. Stay tuned!

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Apple announced macOS Golden Gate at WWDC 2026, which means developers are already working hard to update their apps for the upcoming operating system. The developer beta is now live, but it’s open to anyone who signs up for Apple’s Beta program and is willing to deal with potential headaches associated with in-development code.

This year, Apple has placed most of its focus on updating Apple Intelligence and Siri, which it now calls Siri AI. macOS 27 doesn’t include many new features, so the development team focused on improving performance, which should make this OS run more smoothly. Improvements have also been made to the Liquid Glass UI, making it more customizable (and readable).

A word of warning: macOS Golden Gate is unfinished, so it might be buggy and could cause issues for your Mac. If you’re willing to take the chance (most of these betas are relatively safe in my experience), then read on to find out how to download the macOS Golden Gate developer beta.

How to download the macOS Golden Gate developer beta

Downloading the macOS Golden Gate developer beta is a relatively simple process. First, enroll your Apple ID in Apple's Beta Program and make sure your Mac is compatible. Here's the full list of Macs that can install and run macOS Golden Gate:

• MacBook Neo (2026)
• MacBook Air with Apple silicon (2020 and later)
• MacBook Pro with Apple silicon (2020 and later)
• iMac with Apple silicon (2021 and later)
• Mac mini with Apple silicon (2020 and later)
• Mac Studio with Apple silicon (2022 and later)
• Mac Pro with Apple silicon (2023 and later)

And that’s how you download the macOS Golden Gate developer beta. After the download finishes, your Mac will restart, and you’ll get your first taste of the upcoming OS. Depending on your connection speed, the download might take a few minutes, so be patient. Enjoy the new features!

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At WWDC 2026, Apple announced a slew of updates coming to macOS 27, now called macOS Golden Gate. This OS update officially sees the end of the Intel era, but is more future-focused thanks to better AI and smoother performance.

Apple Intelligence and Siri are getting big upgrades for macOS 27, iPadOS 27, and iOS 27. Powered by Google Gemini, Apple's AI is now on par with competitors and is specifically designed to work with the Apple ecosystem.

While most of the updates for macOS Golden Gate are part of the company's greater AI efforts, features like on-device editing and a more conversational Siri should make using Macs more seamless and intuitive.

Here is everything announced for macOS 27 at WWDC.

macOS 27: Quick news

• macOS Golden Gate is the name for macOS 27
• Under-the-hood performance upgrades
• Smarter Siri and better Apple Intelligence
• Liquid Glass UI is more customizable

Siri AI and Apple Intelligence

Powered by Google Gemini, the new AI-infused Siri acts like a proper chatbot. It has features such as contextual awareness, conversational capabilities, improved natural-language support, and more.

You can use Siri AI through Spotlight to easily find files or messages you need. For example, you can ask or type to find a PDF invoice in one of your emails and add its contents to your Numbers budget spreadsheet. This should make Siri a true assistant rather than just an AI that helps you with recipes.

For writers, Siri AI can help you generate drafts from scratch and help proofread your work. And since it's powered by AI, it can learn how you respond to specific people, and even give you suggestions as you write. This should make it a better writing assistant, whether you're working on a big project or just checking in with friends.

Visual Intelligence with Siri is arriving on Macs for the first time. This feature lets you search visually, ask questions, and take actions on your screen. There is a dedicated keyboard shortcut that lets you select something on your Mac's display and type directly to Siri to get answers.

Liquid Glass

Liquid Glass was introduced last year as the big design overhaul for Apple's operating systems, but it didn't go over well with many Mac users. While Liquid Glass isn't going anywhere, it has been fine-tuned for better readability on Macs.

For instance, you now have finer control over its opacity and color. The edges of apps are also more defined, so they stand out more from the background. These updates should alleviate some of the issues users have had since macOS 26.

Smoother performance

Since macOS Golden Gate doesn't introduce major changes from macOS 26, the team was able to make more under-the-hood updates to help everything run more smoothly.

On iPhones, performance has apparently increased by 30%. We don't have exact numbers for macOS, but it should be in that range. This should also lead to better battery life, which would be interesting given how M-series MacBooks already have astonishing battery life.

macOS Golden Gate: Outlook

macOS Golden Gate primarily focuses on the latest updates to Apple Intelligence and Siri. While we didn't hear about any macOS-specific updates, what we're getting should create a more unified ecosystem across Apple's devices. Beyond all the AI updates, the claimed performance boost for Macs and other devices should be especially beneficial.

We'll update this post with the latest macOS Golden Gate news as we hear it, so stay tuned for more.

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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With WWDC 2026 kicking off on June 8, we’ll soon learn about all the latest updates coming to macOS 27. According to rumors, the Mac-based operating system should receive iterative updates rather than substantial ones. That doesn’t mean there isn’t anything to look forward to, however.

The biggest thing happening for operating systems like iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 is an upgrade for Apple Intelligence and Siri. Apple launched its AI back in 2024, but it’s lagged behind competitors. Ironically enough, Apple Intelligence should now be more useful since Google Gemini will power it.

The other big thing is the end of support for Intel-based Macs. We knew this was coming since last year, but it’s now happening. Other than that, we expect fixes for Liquid Glass so it works better on Macs, built-in app updates, and perhaps a glimpse (or full reveal) of the first touch-screen MacBook.

Here are some of the macOS announcements we expect to see at WWDC 2026.

End of the Intel era

Apple already announced that macOS 26 would be the last macOS for Intel Macs, so this one doesn’t come as a big surprise. Still, if you’re rocking an older Intel Mac, you won’t be able to run the new operating system. That said, you won’t be completely left adrift.

Apple has confirmed that macOS 26 will continue receiving critical security updates for about the next three years. If you’re not ready to upgrade yet, this is certainly good news. Just keep in mind that while you are getting security updates, you won’t get the fancy new features coming to macOS 27.

Here are the Intel-based Macs that can run macOS 26 but won’t support macOS 27:

• MacBook Pro 13-inch (2020)
• MacBook Pro 16-inch (2019)
• iMac 27-inch (2020)
• Mac Pro (2019)

A smarter Siri (for real this time)

Powered by Google Gemini, the new AI-infused Siri will reportedly be a proper AI chatbot. That means it should include features such as contextual awareness, conversational capabilities, improved natural-language support, and more. Expect Google’s multimodal capabilities and agentic AI to come to Siri as well. In short, Siri should behave much more like ChatGPT or Claude.

Apple will reportedly let you integrate third-party models (such as Claude or ChatGPT) into Siri via a new “Extensions” marketplace in the App Store. You might be able to choose distinct voices for these third-party AI responses so you know which one is answering.

Agentic AI is the latest buzz term, and Siri may have deeper system-level context to execute multi-step tasks across apps. For example, you can ask it to find a PDF invoice in one of your emails and add its contents to your Numbers budget spreadsheet. This would make Siri a true assistant.

Liquid Glass fixes

Liquid Glass was the major design overhaul introduced last year, but some users weren’t exactly happy with it, as it drew criticism for its lack of contrast, harsh transparency, and poor sidebar readability.

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, macOS 27 will have a visual tune-up to address these complaints. If true, we could see the sleek, polished look that Apple’s design team originally intended. There are also reports of a Mac-adapted version of the iPhone’s Dynamic Island coming to the menu bar.

Built-in app upgrades

A feature that’s also expected for iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 will bring three AI-powered tools to Photos. This includes Extend, Enhance, and Reframe. The first two are self-explanatory, while Reframe is designed to change the perspective in spatial photos seen in 3D.

For fans of the Safari browser, a new AI feature is rumored to automatically categorize and organize browser tabs into clean, contextual groups. If you frequently have dozens of tabs open, this should be a major win.

Since macOS 27 isn’t a huge overhaul from last year, the team has reportedly focused on fixing bugs and improving performance. As with OS X Snow Leopard, a chunk of code is being optimized for raw efficiency, stability, and better battery life. The latter would be especially interesting given that MacBooks with M-series chips already have epic battery life.

Preparing for touchscreen Macs

WWDC usually focuses on software, but we have seen hardware announcements, such as the M2 MacBook Air at WWDC 2022. Rumors suggest that Apple is working on the first touchscreen MacBook, so it’s possible it could debut at WWDC 2026 — or at least be teased.

To take advantage of a touchscreen, macOS 27 will reportedly have a dynamic user interface that adjusts on the fly. For instance, if you click on an item with the mouse cursor, the UI remains compact. If you tap the screen, menus and controls will automatically expand to be touch-friendly. It should also incorporate iPad-style gestures like fast scrolling and pinch-to-zoom.

Of all the rumors we’ve heard, this one is arguably the most exciting and would bring something substantially new to Macs. I’m curious to see if these touch features will be exclusive to the rumored MacBook Ultra.

macOS 27: Outlook

If rumors are correct, then we shouldn’t see a massive overhaul of macOS 27. That said, an improved Siri could actually be a game-changer if it’s as helpful as intended. The same is true if MacBooks with touchscreens get announced.

Nothing is set in stone, so let’s look forward to WWDC giving us some concrete answers. June 8 is almost here, so it won’t be long. We’ll be live on the ground covering the event as it happens, so keep it locked here for the latest!

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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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Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference, or WWDC, returns on June 8, 2026. While Tom’s Guide will be covering the event live, there’s nothing quite like a good wishlist.

I’ve been a fan of Apple for decades, and since I moved into writing as a career, I’ve gone from a hand-me-down iMac to writing on the iPad Pro M5 and covering Apple events for plenty of outlets in the meantime.

With that in mind, here are the three things I’m most excited about at WWDC 26.

iPadOS

For years, I’ve owned an iPad Pro and not really known why, because I basically use it for movies while travelling and reading books and digital magazines.

That all changed with the recent improvements to iPadOS, and while there’s still a way to go, last year’s iPadOS 26 felt like it ticked plenty of boxes for me.

Multitasking got a huge boost (and without Stage Manager, too!), apps got Menu Bar-like interfaces, the Journal app finally arrived, and we got Preview on an iPad at long last. Then there were background tasks and more, all of which coalesced into making the iPad feel fresh again. I loved it so much I picked up the M5 model.

As a result, I’m curious to know what Apple brings this year. Will we finally get multi-user support? Clamshell mode with an external monitor? The addition of small, utility apps? Time will tell.

A new Mac Mini?

Sure, it’s not likely. Apple traditionally goes all-in on software for WWDC, but 2023 was a big year for hardware between M2 chips and Apple Vision Pro.

We’re expecting Apple Watch and iPhone around the usual September slot, but I can’t think of a better place to debut a new Mac Mini model than at WWDC with the devs who will have fallen in love with the prior versions.

Apple’s diminutive desktop is tough to get hold of, partially due to people getting particularly inventive with its AI potential, but it’s also a very capable family or work computer in its own right. With MacBook Neo turning Windows users into Mac newcomers, this could be a great time to showcase the desktop side of the product lineup.

Siri and Gemini

This is the big one, isn’t it? Apple Intelligence and Siri should go hand-in-hand, but it’s been anything but smooth sailing so far. In fact, I’d wager no one would have predicted Apple would be this far behind its peers.

I use Siri less than ever, leaning on just about anything else to get an answer for something, be that a Google Search or Claude, but if Apple can successfully work out a way to power its assistant with Google’s Gemini (which it sounds like it will) it could be like the ChatGPT connection taken to a whole new level.

What kind of additions can we expect? Well, we may be some way off of the screen-reading, context-aware Siri that was infamously confirmed to be vaporware a couple of years back, but we’re getting some big improvements worth the money Apple will have to siphon off to Google.

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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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Your Mac isn't as fast as it used to be. Apps take longer to open, the spinning wheel appears constantly, and simple tasks feel sluggish. Before assuming you need a new computer or expensive upgrades, try basic maintenance that actually works.

Macs slow down over time not because hardware fails, but because software accumulates. Files pile up, apps run in the background you forgot about, and startup processes multiply until your Mac is struggling under the weight of digital clutter.

I run these three maintenance tasks on my MacBook every month. They take about 15 minutes total and consistently improve performance without costing anything. Here's what keeps my aging Mac running smoothly.

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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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The Mac mini is a great computer, and we love it here at Tom's Guide, but that doesn't mean we won't criticise Apple's design choices. In fact, in my colleague Anthony's review of the Mac mini M4, he said that, "if only Apple hadn’t put the power button on the bottom of the device, this would be a near perfect upgrade over the Mac mini M2."

Well, there's some good news to share today because with the release of macOS 26.5 Tahoe, Apple has finally delivered a software solution to this hardware headache.

The latest update introduces a new 'Power Control' section within the Energy settings, specifically designed for Mac desktops like the Mac mini, Mac Studio, and iMac. The standout feature as far as a lot of users (and Anthony) are concerned? Support for external switches.

That means you'll be able to use compatible accessories to power off or restart the Mac mini without ever needing to access the physical button on the underside of the chassis. What's more, according to Apple's support document, the new update will also give users the choice to have their Mac mini, Mac Studio, or iMac automatically turn on when connected to power. Nice!

Despite Apple categorizing this as an accessibility feature, I'd argue the addition of switch support is a big quality-of-life upgrade for all users. Especially if you like to tinker with your desk setup. For example, you could mount a compatible third-party switch to the side of your keyboard and have it always within reach.

Apple itself seems to quietly acknowledge the design misstep, noting this new feature is particularly helpful, “when you don't have easy access to the computer's power button.”

How to enable Power Control

If you’ve updated to macOS 26.5, you can find these new options by navigating to System Settings > Energy. From there, a new Power Control menu allows you to pair your external switches.

Additionally, the update includes a toggle to have your Mac automatically boot up as soon as it’s connected to power — a feature previously reserved for server-grade hardware but now available to the Mac mini M4, iMac M4, and the 2025 Mac Studio.

Bottom line

The macOS 26.5 is a relatively small update for Mac, but this particular addition does seem like it'll make a meaningful difference.

Hopefully, this small change means Apple is taking on board feedback that users and reviewers are pointing out — even if it's through software solutions rather than hardware revamps.

Of course, whether or not the next iteration of the Mac mini keeps the power button on the underside remains to be seen. Maybe that's a question for John Ternus to answer when he takes the reins at Apple in September.

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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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For all the things I (and many others) are wary about in the AI future, there are certainly some obvious uses for the technology.

Running huge calculations in a fraction of the time, translating text, and other “donkey work” is what it should be used for, rather than an excuse to overwrite humankind’s propensity for creativity.

As a writer, one of the most frustrating parts of interviews has long been transcribing voice to text. It’s got much better in recent years, but it’s often required expensive, sometimes demanding software tools.

I stumbled upon TypeWhisper, and it’s a fantastic AI tool for transcription - and it runs locally.

Talking to myself

TypeWhisper is free to use for non-commercial purposes, but you can pay for additional models. I’ve been testing the app with the WhisperKit LLM, installed locally on my MacBook Air.

This means there are multiple sizes to choose from, and I’ve settled on the Large v3 model at 1.5GB - but some models are as small as 40MB.

Out of the box, though, it’s pretty fantastic. I use a hotkey (tied to HyperKey, which I wrote about recently) to trigger voice-to-text, and that allows me to speak and see live transcription at the top of my screen within the Mac’s ‘notch’ - almost like an iPhone’s Dynamic Island.

In my testing, I’ve found it’s a great way to get ideas down so I can copy them into my writing app of choice (usually Drafts or Google Docs). It’s not perfect, but when pointing it at an American Dad episode playing in the room, it did a great job of transcribing its absurdist humor to text.

I can add phrases to the dictionary so that “Eggs Box” becomes “Xbox” more consistently, and more besides.

You talking to me?

That brings us to the real draw, though - file transcription. The majority of interviews I’ve conducted are recorded on messaging platforms and sent over as audio or video files.

What once involved slowly working through with headphones on now needs to be dragged, dropped, and transcribed by TypeWhisper. Naturally, larger models will have more consistent results (particularly if you’re plugging in cloud models like Chat-GPT), but in wanting to keep my environmental footprint to a minimum, I’ve been very pleased with the local model. It can even export to subtitle files with timestamps - ideal for content creation.

There’s a Workflow function to take transcriptions and run automations on them, like dropping them into a specific application.

All in all, what began as a curiosity in my own workflows has become something I can see myself using more and more often.

TypeWhisper is stable in macOS right now, and it’s in beta for Windows and alpha for iOS.

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WWDC 2026 is just around the corner, and so is macOS 27. Will Apple get rid of Liquid Glass? No, but according to the latest Mark Gurman report, the company looks set to address some of the key frustrations about it — all while adding some nifty new features and optimizations to the OS too.

With it being quite the make-or-break year for Apple’s AI ambitions, Safari looks set to get awesome new tech to automate tab grouping (alongside the revamped Gemini-infused Siri), and there is even talk about prepping the desktop OS for touch.

A ‘slight redesign’ to tackle Liquid Glass problems

In his newsletter, Gurman has reported that a “slight redesign” is coming to help address the readability problems that Liquid Glass has caused — namely the “shadows and transparency quirks.”

It’s been one of my biggest pet peeves with macOS over the past few months, but also one I’ve been conflicted about because I do actually like the transparency of Liquid Glass giving me subtle context clues of where my windows are. So if we could get better text visibility, improved scroll bar placement and less shadow effects taking over the screen, that would be a damn good place to start.

Thoughtful AI usage in Safari

Same as what Gurman has been told about test versions of iOS 27, a new “Organize Tabs” button is set to be added to Safari for AI-infused automatic tab grouping in Apple’s Safari.

Taking the manual process out of figuring out all your browser tabs (and catching up with other browsers that have been doing this for a while), Apple is dealing with the groups for you and “you can choose whether you want the grouping to occur automatically or not.”

Touch-ready for MacBook Ultra

This is the big question mark. All rumors are pointing to a touchscreen MacBook Ultra launching later this year — it’s gotten us so excited that we got impatient and created our own touch iMac.

So it stands to reason that with new hardware, the software needs to catch up. macOS may look rather touch-friendly with its iOS stylings, but it’s certainly a bit awkward to use in this way. In another Gurman report, it sounds like this is finally the year where we’ll see it happen.

However, don’t expect it to be out in the wild for you to test in betas. Given it’s potentially connected to new devices, you can expect the Cupertino Crew to keep this one hidden until the Ultra reportedly breaks cover towards the end of this year/beginning of next year.

This needs to be a ‘Snow Leopard’ moment

Remember Snow Leopard? This came after a particularly massive feature-rich version of macOS Leopard — bringing a lot of stuff to the table while introducing some bloat to say the least.

Snow Leopard is easily my favorite version of the OS that Apple has ever launched because it focused simply on everything under the hood. It was a night-and-day difference in speeds and feeds, and everything just felt much more “put together.”

And it’s this feeling that I’ll be looking for in macOS 27. An improved Siri looks ready to potentially bring some agentic capabilities, Liquid Glass needs a tune-up, and while macOS is in a much more power-optimized place now with Apple Silicon, there are still plenty of stability improvements to be made.

If we get this version of Craig Federighi (and his magnificent hair) on stage in June, then you’ll know Apple’s been cooking.

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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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Instead of waiting for you to download a bad app or a malicious file, hackers have spent the last two years tricking unsuspecting users into infecting their own computers with malware. Known as ClickFix, this tactic is now widely used by both hackers and scammers but with its new macOS Tahoe 26.4 update, Apple has implemented a way to warn potential victims before it’s too late.

Although it was first used to target Windows devices, this social engineering technique was later tweaked to go after Macs too. Just like with other attacks, it starts with lure and in this case, that’s a fix to a common computer problem. Whether it be a microphone that isn’t working before a video call or a connection error that’s slowing down your internet, everyone wants a quick fix to their problems and that’s exactly what the hackers leveraging this technique gave them, albeit with a twist.

On the fake websites used in ClickFix attacks, a pop-up tells you there is a problem with your computer. A 'Fix It' button magically appears, promising an instant solution. Clicking on it copies a command to your clipboard and from there, you just have to paste it into Terminal (or a Command Prompt on Windows), hit Enter and then everything should be fixed. Right? Well that couldn’t be further from the truth.

You see, that command you copied over is actually malicious and as BleepingComputer points out, once you paste it, any existing security measures on your computer are bypassed. From there, the hackers behind these ClickFix attacks can then infect your Mac or Windows PC with malware.

Fortunately though, Apple has added a new warning to macOS which appears when you try to paste potentially harmful commands in Terminal. To see if this really works, I decided to give it a try on one of the best MacBooks. Here’s what happened.

Putting Apple’s new warning to the test

Since I’m currently testing out the MacBook Pro 16-inch M5 Pro we recently reviewed, I wanted to see if I could get one of Apple’s new warning messages to appear for myself. It took a bit of extra work but I finally managed to see one for myself.

To do so, I first took a look at a blog post from Sophos on how ClickFix attacks have evolved over the past year. From fake sites using OpenAI’s ChatGPT Atlas browser as a lure to a malvertising campaign that leveraged sponsored links tied to ChatGPT searches to impersonating legitimate Apple sites, hackers continue to come up with new ways to trick Mac users into infecting their own computers with malware.

Since I wanted to try out Apple’s new ClickFix warning for myself, I went to the middle of that blog post where Sophos has a table with all of the malicious domains used in one of these campaigns. I tried putting a few of them into my browser’s address bar but fortunately, they have all since been taken down. What was good news for potential victims was bad news for me since I wanted to find a malicious command to copy and try to paste into Terminal.

From there, I had to get a bit creative and employed the help of Google Gemini. I asked the search giant’s chatbot about whether or not it could come up with a command I could use to trick macOS Tahoe into showing its new warning. It came up with this suspicious looking but harmless string: echo "SGVsbG8gV29ybGQ=" | base64 --decode.

Much to my surprise, when I copied that string and tried to paste it into Terminal on my Mac, the warning message instantly appeared, saying:“Possible malware, Paste blocked. Your Mac has not been harmed. Scammers often encourage pasting text into Terminal to try and harm your Mac or compromise your privacy. These instructions are commonly offered via websites, chat agents, apps, files, or a phone call.”

Even though the string Gemini came up with was harmless, I still clicked “Don’t Paste” anyway out of an abundance of caution. And with that, my little test was complete.

While this new warning message will likely keep Mac users safe from falling for ClickFix attacks, oddly enough, Apple doesn’t even mention it in its own macOS Tahoe 26.4 release notes. Still, it’s good to know it’s there keeping you safe from infecting your own computer with Mac malware in the background.

When it comes to Windows, Microsoft has had a multi-line paste warning in Windows Terminal for years now. However, unlike with Apple's new warning, it isn't context-aware. So instead of seeing the warning when copying code from a suspicious website, Windows users see it whenever they try to paste multiple lines of code at the same time.

How to stay safe from ClickFix attacks

Although Apple will now warn you when you try to copy something from your browser and paste it into Terminal, you won’t see this new warning message unless you’re running the latest version of macOS. As such, just like with phishing attacks, you still want to know how to spot a ClickFix attack so that you can avoid them entirely.

Since hackers often try to instill a sense of urgency to get potential victims to do things they ordinarily wouldn’t like copying something and pasting it into a Terminal window or a Command Prompt, you want to slow down and think things over first. You want to be extra cautious whenever a website or app asks you to do something you normally wouldn’t.

At the same time, you should also avoid running code or commands that you’ve copied from a website, email or a message. Since most people won’t be able to make heads or tails of what that line of code or command actually does, it’s best to just avoid copying and pasting anything that doesn’t come from a trusted source. If you do have to enter commands, it’s always better to write them out yourself than to just copy and paste them.

While your Mac comes with built-in security protections in the form of Gatekeeper and XProtect, you can never be too careful. That’s why I recommend running the best Mac antivirus software alongside Apple’s own security software. That way, you’re protected with an extra layer of security.

Likewise, you also want to take some extra time and make sure you’re acquainted with all of the latest malware campaigns and tactics currently being used by hackers and other cybercriminals. Given how rapidly ClickFix attacks have evolved and how successful they’ve been in just two short years, I don’t see them going away anytime soon. That’s why it’s up to you to practice good cyber hygiene and to always be careful where you click or in this case, what you copy and paste.

At least for those running macOS 26.4, Apple has finally provided a 'stop-and-think' moment. It’s a silent guardian that acts as a final safety net if you slip up and try to paste a command that isn’t what it seems."

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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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Apple began rolling out developer beta 1 for macOS Tahoe 26.4 yesterday, and it’s now available for public beta users. Some of these releases can be a bit lean, but this one actually has some useful features to check out.

As 9to5Mac reports, the beta is now available for anyone who’s enrolled in Apple’s free Beta Software Program. If you’ve been holding off on the developer build, this is a good time to dive in, so long as you’re comfortable with potential beta bugs.

Here’s a breakdown of what’s coming to your Mac with version 26.4.

Battery charge limit for MacBooks

This is the most notable update in this build. As you can currently do on iOS 26 and iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe now lets you set a specific Battery Charge Limit. You can choose to cap your maximum charge anywhere between 80% and 100%.

If you’re like me and spend 90% of your time with your MacBook plugged into a wall outlet or dock, this is a good way to maintain long-term battery health. Keeping your battery at a constant 100% can degrade it faster over time, so being able to hard-cap it at 80% while you're at your desk is a feature that has been a long time coming.

The end of Rosetta apps

Apple has added new Rosetta warning popups that appear whenever you launch an app built for Intel processors. The pop-up serves as a reminder that macOS 27 (which will likely release later this year) will officially drop support for Rosetta and Intel-based apps.

As we’ve known for a while, macOS Tahoe is the final stop for Intel Macs. If you’re still using a legacy machine, this beta is essentially the beginning of the end. It’s a clear signal from Apple that it’s officially time to upgrade to a Mac with an M-series chip.

Small fixes and Safari tweaks

For Safari fans, the compact tab bar option has returned to System Settings. It was missing from the initial launch of Tahoe, but it's back for those who prefer a more streamlined browser UI.

Apple also claims to have finally squashed a persistent UI bug regarding window corner radii. Apparently, the window resize pointer wasn't correctly following the curved shape of the windows. That’s a small detail, but one that probably drove some folks crazy.

How to get the macOS Tahoe Public Beta

If you want to try these features yourself, you can head over to beta.apple.com to sign up. Once enrolled, just go to System Settings > General > Software Update and toggle on the Tahoe Public Beta.

Just a word of advice from someone who uses beta builds: Back up your data. While this 26.4 build feels relatively stable, you never want to risk your primary work machine on a beta without a Time Machine backup ready to go.

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Loud laptop fan noise is distracting and often signals your laptop is working harder than it should be. Fans spin faster and louder when you're laptop overheats, struggles with demanding programs, or accumulates dust that blocks airflow. What starts as an occasional noise can escalate into constant whirring that makes working, watching videos, or focusing nearly impossible.

Most loud fan problems stem from fixable issues rather than hardware failure. Before assuming your laptop is on its way out, here's three straightforward adjustments that reduce fan noise significantly. Plus, these fixes work regardless of what brand of laptop you're using, or model.

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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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Your Mac is a versatile machine, but many of its features aren't always apparent until you start doing some digging. For example, you may not have learned how to show the hidden files in Mac, and you may be performing some tasks such as renaming multiple files the long way around. But, as this guide shows, you can quickly become a power user simply by being pointed in the right direction.

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Windows has always felt like a necessary evil. You could switch to Mac or Linux, but until very recently, that wasn’t a real option if you wanted to play games on your PC in addition to working on it. Now, between the clunky "Show more options" context menu addition, being required to log in using a Microsoft Account and Microsoft shoehorning AI via Copilot into every corner of its OS, many of us have finally reached a breaking point.

While I’ve been experimenting with the Mac mini M4, I’m still just one botched Windows update away from saying enough is enough and installing Linux on my PC. But there’s a third option that’s always been held back by its "web-only" reputation: ChromeOS. If you've used one of the best Chromebooks before, you’ve likely felt those limitations. And the second you try to do something outside of a browser window, the "Pro" experience vanishes.

That changed this week though. After years of rumors, we finally got a glimpse of Google’s upcoming Aluminum OS which aims to combine the best parts of ChromeOS with Android. Leaked images show a unified Android-based system that looks and acts like a "real" desktop, complete with native windowing and most importantly, a way to install local apps. As someone who has dreamed of a "ChromeOS Pro" for years now, I wonder if this new operating system will finally be good enough to let me ditch Windows for good.

A true Google desktop

After testing out Neverware’s Chromium-based CloudReady OS a few years ago, I decided that when it came time to buy a new tablet, I’d go with a Chromebook instead. My reasoning at the time was simple: longevity.

Unlike the best Android tablets that might only see a couple of major OS updates, most Chromebooks are now officially supported for a full 10 years after their release, something you don’t see with practically any other device.

To that end, I bought a Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3. While I really love the versatility of this 2-in-1, I found myself constantly using it connected to a monitor; I am a desktop user at heart, after all. I did look into getting a Chromebox, but those mini-PCs always seemed to be few and far between, often carrying a premium price tag despite having lower specs than their Windows counterparts. It felt like I was stuck between a laptop I used as a desktop and a desktop that didn't quite exist.

With Google’s plan to merge Android into its computing platform, I expect we’ll see plenty of new laptops, but focusing only on portables would be a missed opportunity. People are fed up with Windows, yet they don’t necessarily want to spend their weekends learning Linux or lock themselves into Apple’s hardware ecosystem.

We’ve seen the leaked screenshots of Aluminum OS (internally called ALOS) running on existing Chromebook hardware like the HP Elite Dragonfly and so far, it looks like the "Pro" leap I’ve been waiting for. The taller status bar, centered taskbar, and proper window controls for minimizing and maximizing apps finally make Google’s software feel like it was built for a 27-inch monitor rather than just a 10-inch screen.

We might have to wait a while for official details, as the Made by Google events have shifted from the fall to late summer — most recently landing in August. But just like when Apple released the iPad after the iPhone, Aluminum OS won’t be launching into a vacuum.

Since it’s built on an Android 16 foundation, it will have immediate access to over 2 million apps on day one. Sure, some will need optimizations to feel truly "desktop-class," but for the first time, a Google desktop won't be starting from scratch. It will be starting with the largest app library on the planet.

For far more than work

One thing that has always impressed me about ChromeOS is how lightweight it feels. This is true with other Linux-based operating systems too, because, while Windows loads everything you could potentially need at startup, Linux just loads what you actually need.

All of those extra background processes have long held back Windows gaming. In fact, on identical hardware like the Lenovo Legion Go S, recent 2026 benchmarks show that a lean Linux-based OS can get nearly 30% better frame rates in titles like Cyberpunk 2077 compared to Windows 11.

When designing its new Xbox Full Screen Experience for PC gaming handhelds like the ROG Xbox Ally X and the Legion Go S, Microsoft even went as far as to allow users to manually disable unnecessary background tasks and CPU boosting to try and claw back some performance. But even with those tweaks, Windows still struggles with efficiency. In indie games like Dead Cells, the same device can deliver over six hours of play on Linux, while on Windows 11, it will often die in under three.

With SteamOS on the Steam Deck, Valve did the hard work for everyone else by proving that, yes, Linux can play games just as well (or even better) than Windows 11. Now with the January 2026 release of Proton 10, roughly 90% of Windows games are able to run seamlessly on Linux-based systems.

So what does this mean for Google’s upcoming Aluminum OS? Well, the search giant would be making a serious misstep by not incorporating all of this hard work and tech into its new operating system. Yes, there are plenty of Android games — including a few impressive ports of AAA ones — but why limit users to playing mobile games when the majority of them would rather play full-fledged PC games?

Now, I would love for Aluminum OS devices to be based around X86 chips, but that’s highly unlikely. Instead, the majority of them will likely be powered by ARM-based chips like Qualcomm’s Snapdragon ones. Fortunately, Valve has been funding the open-source FEX-Emu project for seven years now, even paying its core developers to work on it full-time.

In the same way that Proton translates Windows games so they can run on Linux, FEX-Emu translates games written for X86 chips so that they can run on ARM chips. By using the two together, you can run a Windows game like The Witcher 3 on a Linux system powered by an ARM chip with nearly native performance.

To avoid ChromeOS’ “web-only” stigma, Google will need to sell potential Aluminum OS users on its new operating system. What better way to do that than to tell them right out the gate that most, if not all, of their favorite PC games are supported?

Windows in the rearview

Having used one of the best Android phones since they first became available and with my experience using ChromeOS over the years, suffice it to say, I’m pretty excited about Aluminum OS. Users of Google’s mobile and its desktop operating system have longed for something a bit more — whether that be Desktop Mode on Android or Android Apps on Chromebook — for years now and we may finally be able to have our cake and eat it too.

That doesn’t mean that Aluminum OS won’t have its hiccups or its shortcomings. For instance, unlike with ChromeOS Flex, I don’t think Google will let you install its new operating system on any PC capable of running it. Instead, like with ChromeOS, I reckon it will be locked to new hardware to entice people to ditch their old Chromebook or Android tablet and upgrade.

For the most part, this won’t be a problem for me when it comes to ditching Windows because after the crypto-fueled Great GPU Shortage of 2018 and more recently, the ongoing RAM crisis, I don’t build PCs like I used to. Instead, I’ve downsized to one of the best mini PCs and this has served me quite well during the time since. Given how close Google and Qualcomm have gotten over the years and how the latter keeps showing off mini PC concepts, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a desktop computer powered by a Snapdragon chip running Aluminum OS. This would be more than enough for my day to day workload and hopefully, some real PC gaming.

Still, I’d love a Windows alternative that lets me bring my own hardware. Even though I will need to finally learn some Linux, Valve’s own SteamOS seems like the anti-Aluminum OS, Windows alternative that will scratch that itch. Who knows, maybe I will build a new gaming PC if the Steam Machine doesn’t quite meet my expectations.

While good enough, Windows 11 is starting to have its Vista moment thanks to all of Microsoft’s unnecessary changes, constant OneDrive upgrade prompts and shoehorned AI. Windows has served me well for decades but if Google really nails it, Aluminum OS could easily become my daily driver, especially if it’s as good for work as it is for gaming.

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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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Google is busy with all kinds of new Android features and updates. The company is working to bring its phone and tablet operating system to personal computers with "Aluminum OS."

Now, after months of rumors about what the OS could be like, Google looks to have accidentally uploaded brief videos showcasing it. Oops. The videos were intended as bug reports about Chrome Incognito tabs, but the eagle-eyed folks at 9To5Google spotted them and pulled them before Google restricted access. There's even a mention of an ALOS software version, which is the shortened version of "Aluminum OS."

What we saw in the leaked 'Aluminum OS' videos

The video above was actually shared on YouTube by Android Authority and shows off the upcoming laptop version of Android 16 running on an HP Elite Dragonfly 13.5 Chromebook.

The OS looks good and appears to blend elements from Chrome OS and Android. For example, the start button is in the center, and Google put a status bar at the top, which looks and feels a lot like Android on a phone or tablet. We also see some split-screen multitasking in the video, which is an important aspect of a laptop or desktop OS, since there's much more screen real estate to work with.

Google Play is also seen running, further affirming that we're looking at Android.

Previously, Android head Sameer Samat said we should expect to see more from "Aluminum OS" this year, though I don't think he meant for the new information to come from a leaked bug report. Unfortunately for Google, you can't sneak anything by the internet.

Hopefully, something more official and deeper will come out from Google soon, as it looks like a useful OS to play around with.

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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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Most people unbox a new Mac, breeze through the setup steps, and start using it exactly as Apple intended. The Magic Mouse stays. The built-in display is enough. Default settings remain untouched. That approach works fine for basic tasks, but it leaves a lot of capability on the table.

Power users do things differently. They upgrade their peripherals and expand storage before it becomes a problem. These aren't complicated modifications that require technical know-how — they're straightforward upgrades that make your daily work faster and more comfortable.

The gap between a stock Mac and a power user setup isn't as wide as you'd think. Three key changes cover the crux of 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!

More from Tom's Guide

• 15 top Windows 11 tips everyone needs to know
• 5 things I wish I knew about Windows 11 when I upgraded from Windows 10
• Don't buy a new PC for Windows 11 just yet — this lightweight version can save your old Windows 10 PC

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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• Low on RAM? This handy Windows 11 trick frees up virtual memory right now
• How much RAM do I need? Here's how to know

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!

More from Tom's Guide

• Your 'unsupported' Windows 10 PC can still run Windows 11 — here's how
• This hidden Windows 11 feature lets you force an emergency restart
• Your browser is draining your laptop battery — here's how to stop it

When you bought your Mac, it would have run like a dream. Apps opened in a flash and navigation was smooth, though good things don’t always last. Macs naturally slow down over time, but don’t consign your computer to the scrap heap just yet. With a few tweaks, you can get your Mac running quickly again.

You can also make a big difference to a Mac’s performance by keeping it up to date. Learn how to download macOS Tahoe, for instance, and make sure you install updates as and when they’re rolled out — this will at least eliminate bugs that could be causing a slowdown. Here's five free ways you can speed up your slow Mac.

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• How to set up time-saving Shortcuts on your Mac
• Schedule your Mac to turn off and on — here's how

As we get used to AI generating images and answering questions for us in seconds, it is becoming even more frustrating when a PC can’t handle basic tasks without freezing or grinding to a halt.

Before you break open your piggy bank for a new device, there are several things you can do to improve your Windows 11 laptop or desktop’s performance which don’t require deep technical skills.

I've rounded up six practical, low-risk ways to speed up your machine that don’t require sketchy third-party "cleaner" tools. To try them out yourself, this is what you need to do.

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• Your 'unsupported' Windows 10 PC can still run Windows 11 in 2025 — here's how
• This hidden Windows 11 feature lets you force an emergency restart
• Your browser is draining your laptop battery — here's how to stop it

As time goes on, even the best PCs begin to slow down and lag. Before long, completing tasks becomes a time-sapping frustration and you're starting to contemplate a replacement.

But wait! You may find the problem eases if you have some extra RAM to hand and you don't need to spend a fortune. By turning a USB flash drive into virtual RAM, you can reduce your reliance on an aging, slow hard disk and give your PC a speed boost. Plus, it's really easy to do, taking less than a minute to get set up.

This trick works with Windows 10 and Windows 11 (it's actually available on older operating systems too). When it's up and running, it uses the flash drive as a cache. The only thing to bear in mind is that it works best if your operating system is installed on a traditional hard drive rather than a solid state drive.

If you're already using an SSD, you won't see much improvement, but if you're still running on an HDD, you're sure to notice decent gains in speed. Here's how to do it.

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• Windows 11 PC running slow? Here's how to free up RAM fast
• This hidden Windows 11 setting might be quietly draining your RAM — here's a quick fix
• How much RAM do I need? Here's how to know

Facing a sluggish computer when you're running intensive software or dealing with multiple open tabs? You may be hitting the limits of your RAM.

With RAMageddon pushing prices through the roof, physically upgrading isn't realistic for most people right now. Even basic tasks — having just five browser tabs open — can consume around 4GB, enough to clog up budget PCs.

If you're running Windows 11, you may ease some pressure off your PC by increasing your virtual memory. This is when you allow your computer to use hard disk space to simulate extra RAM, which can be used to prevent the system from crashing when the load on your RAM gets too high.

Windows 11 automatically manages virtual memory, but the default configuration is designed for general use. If your PC slows down or becomes unstable when running several programs at once, manually adjusting these settings gives you more breathing room and can noticeably improve performance on systems with limited RAM. Here's what you need to do.

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• RAM prices are exploding — here's why and everything you need to know
• Your mechanical keyboard is gross — here's how to clean it
• Your computer can get internet through USB — here's how to set it up

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 promises to improve PC gaming in 2026, but will it be enough to topple Steam?
• I just discovered a secret productivity hack for my Mac, and it’s transformed how I focus

I’m a Mac power user — surrounded by monitors that are compartmentalized by task so I can effectively multitask. But there’s a problem: I’m terrible at multitasking.

It’s so easy to get distracted by many different things, like emails or Slack chats in my peripheral vision, and before you know it, I’m splitting my attention between several different apps rather than actually locking in and completing one thing at a time.

So I did some research to find something to help me with my focus, and that’s when I came across Display Flow + Care: an app that turned out to be a breakthrough for my productivity (and for caring for my OLED displays to boot).

Cursor-based monitor dimming

It’s a simple utility on paper — dimming (or blurring) a monitor when you’re not using it. At first, it felt a little weird to get used to, because you feel blind to your comms.

However, it’s been a breakthrough for getting stuff done by making every action feel all the more intentional. Instead of being distracted by people trying to get my attention (sorry, boss), I can focus on actually getting stuff done (like this article).

On top of that, the two monitors that I use are OLED-based, which is rather susceptible to burn-in if there is static content. This is ultimately the purpose of Display Flow + Care, as dimming your panel will eliminate any risk of that.

But hidden in all the screen care benefits is a true combo breaker for maximizing your focus too. Or if you’re on-the-go, a privacy screen that you can turn on at any point. I’ve tried a whole lot of productivity tools, but this is one of the rare ones that actually feels useful.

Head tracking

Want to take it up to another level? Make sure you’re using one of the best webcams and you can take the mouse cursor out of the equation by enabling Display Flow + Care's head tracking feature. This lets you activate different monitors by turning your head in different directions.

I’ve got mine set to turn on the side monitor on the left when I turn my head to the left, and a swift head turn to the right will activate the main panel for my workload. It just feels so satisfyingly logical — just look at the panel and it springs to life.

I recommend speeding up the unblur time too, so you don't have to wait a couple of seconds before you can see everything you’re doing each time you move displays.

Outlook

I know that we talk a lot about upgrading your life with a beast of a desk setup, but one thing that always gets lost in the weeds of setting up a multi-monitor workstation is the tendency to get distracted by everything going on around you.

But I didn’t realize the fix would be so easy to get and so cheap too. This is easily the most useful app I’ve downloaded this year — both for preserving my monitors and keeping me focused on completing tasks too.

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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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• I didn’t think I could love my Steam Deck OLED more — then I bought this cheap accessory
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Sure, it's technically Tuesday, but there are loads of Cyber Monday deals still available if you know where to look! And if you happen to own a Mac, there's still a killer sale on a bundle of Mac apps that will make your life a bit easier.

Trust me, I know because I've been using Macs since I was a kid, and I now review them for a living here at Tom's Guide. I also wrote our macOS Tahoe review, and as fond as I am of the latest version of macOS, I think there are still lots of good reasons to buy third-party apps.

That's why I wanted to flag the fact that, for a limited time, you can still take advantage of the Editor's Choice Black Friday Mac apps bundle for 2025. This is a bundle of Mac software offered at a major discount and organized by the developers, led by the folks behind the Unclutter app.

It works like this: you can either buy any of the apps in the bundle for half off while the deal lasts, or you can buy the whole bundle (estimated value: $331) for $76.

There are lots of good apps in the bundle, too, including some that rank among the best Mac apps we regularly recommend. CleanShot X is a killer app for capturing screenshots, for example, while Unclutter helps you keep your desktop organized by giving you new tools to move and store files while you're working. And with Keysmith, you can create custom keyboard shortcuts for all sorts of things, which can be a huge time-saver if you write a lot of emails or code.

I like this bundle because it's led by the software developers themselves and has clear value: you can get half off any of these apps or over 75% off the whole bundle, and the developers are offering a 30-day money-back guarantee, so if you don't like what you bought, you can return it!

I like that nice wide return window. I also appreciate that this sale has been running since Black Friday and is slated to last two weeks, so you've got at least a few more days to dig around in the couch for enough spare change to take a flier on one of these apps, which are discounted as low as $5 while the sale lasts!

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.

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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?
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