Microsoft just shared a massive blog post recapping major Windows 11 changes, including new Photos app features, an improved Search experience, expanded phone integration, and gaming improvements.

Many of the changes highlighted by Microsoft have already been announced, or even fully detailed elsewhere. But with Windows 11 in the middle of a significant refresh, gathering them all in one place is useful.

While much of the post focuses on previously known improvements, Microsoft also used it to introduce a few genuinely new additions, including the redesigned Photos app and an Xbox anniversary game bundle for eligible PC buyers.

Here's a quick rundown of the features Microsoft highlighted:

• New Photos app
• Advanced Shader Delivery (ASD)
• Windows 11 performance improvements
  • Faster Start menu
  • Faster File Explorer
  • Faster Search
  • Faster Snipping Tool
  • Faster Settings
  • Memory optimizations
  • Reduced Widgets memory usage
  • Reduced update times
• Bluetooth and AirPods improvements
• Windows Hello improvements
• A push to improve driver quality
• Expanded Phone Link features
• Microsoft Ink Canvas
• Advanced Haptics
• Improved accessibility

One of the biggest changes is the new Search experience that allows you to perform actions from the taskbar. The new Search is faster, supports inline actions, and lets you perform tasks without opening related apps or settings menus. The new Search is already in testing among Windows Insiders.

Microsoft explains that improvements to Windows 11 results in an experience that feels up to 20 percent more responsive. That improvement comes as the result of several efforts from Microsoft, such as optimizing memory management and streamlining in-box apps.

The company also highlights that Windows 11 is more reliable and customizable than before. Over the past year the Widgets Panel has been cleaned, the taskbar has gained the option to be placed on other parts of your screen, and Windows Update has been improved.

Microsoft specifically highlighted Bluetooth improvements, including AirPods pairing that it says is up to 15 seconds faster.

On the gaming side of things, Advanced Shader Delivery (ASD) reduces the initial load time of games by delivering precompiled shaders. Forza Horizon 6 and Gears of War: E-Day are supported now and more titles should gain support in the future.

The improvements to Windows 11 will help anyone with an up-to-date PC, but it's clear Microsoft is taking the opportunity to suggest people buy a new PC. As part of that effort, the company has an Xbox 25th Anniversary bundle that includes over $500 worth of games. The collection includes several major titles, including Skyrim Special Edition, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Age of Empires II Definitive Edition, Minecraft Dungeons, and Gears of War: Reloaded.

"A new PC is a meaningful purchase, and the value should show up in more than a spec sheet," says Microsoft. "The reason to upgrade is not just one feature; it is how [experiences] work together to make more of your day feel effortless."

Another Microsoft blog post highlights deals as we head into the holidays.

Microsoft shared a commitment to listen to feedback earlier this year. The company followed up with several improvements as part of its Windows K2 initiative. It's taken time for those promises to move from feedback and Insider testing to broader availability, but Windows 11 is now seeing some of its most significant changes in years.

The real question is whether these improvements change buying behavior. Microsoft clearly believes a faster, more reliable Windows experience can help convince people to upgrade.

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Microsoft Edge may not have a Favorites bar after a future update. The browser may instead feature a collection of bookmarks instead. The change would bring Edge more in line with Chrome, which could help people transitioning from Google's browser to Microsoft's.

The change appears now in the Canary version of Microsoft Edge, which suggests it will make its way to the stable version of the browser at some point in the future. Leo Varela, who tracks changes to Edge and Chrome, spotted the change and highlighted it on X.

Varela also noted that the switch could be made to make Edge appear more like Chrome.

I'm curious if people are even aware that Edge has Favorites rather than bookmarks. Even if you click the star icon in Edge to add a site as a favorite and then place that site in the Favorites bar, the user interface looks almost identical to bookmarks in Chrome or other Chromium browsers.

Edge still has a poor reputation

This week I was speaking with a friend about Microsoft Edge and was somewhat surprised to hear them say it was a bad browser. I was actually more surprised that they had an opinion of the browser at all.

If you hop into our comment section or into subreddits full of tech enthusiasts, you'll often see people say something to the effect of "Edge is a fine browser; it's basically Chrome with a Microsoft paintjob."

But in my experience, that opinion is not held by non-techy users. In the rare instances that browser preferences come up in my everyday conversations, most people I speak with still connect Edge to Internet Explorer or just assume Edge is worse than Chrome.

I know Chrome gets a lot of hate around these parts, but the reality is that it's the world's most-used browser. Statcounter shows Chrome at a 66.36% market share right now. That tramples second-place Safari, which sits at 18.27%. Edge is in third place with a 6.04% market share.

That picture changes when exclusively looking at mobile devices. Chrome is even more dominant and Edge has essentially no mobile market share.

With Chrome being the de-facto standard for browsing, it's wise to make Edge look similar to Chrome. Microsoft needs to differentiate Edge in some ways, but Favorites versus Bookmarks is not one of them.

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XREAL just announced a refresh to the best AR glasses on the market. The newly announced XREAL 1 Pro+ is brighter than last year's model and features enhancements to improve image quality.

XREAL carved a niche in the wearable space with its glasses that let you enjoy content on a massive digital screen that you can take anywhere. We've covered XREAL products for years, including the XREAL Air 2 Pro, XREAL One Pro, and XREAL Beam Pro, which enhances XREAL AR glasses by adding support for Android apps.

The XREAL 1 Pro+ builds on the XREAL One Pro, retaining a 57-degree field of view and support for 3DoF (three degrees of freedom) spatial viewing. The new AR glasses are much brighter than their predecessor.

The biggest upgrade on paper is the jump from 700 nits to 1,200 nits of brightness. We've found display quality to be one of the most important factors when evaluating AR glasses.

In our XREAL One Pro review, we said you should buy a pair if you want a "bright, beautiful, and private display for all your devices." We'll have to test the XREAL 1 Pro+ but the official specifications suggest it's brighter and more beautiful than its predecessor.

XREAL added support for AI HDR to improve perceived image quality, though that feature is limited to certain types of content.

The 2D-to-3D conversion of the glasses, which adds depth to normal 2D content, has had its refresh rate improved from 30Hz to 60Hz.

The XREAL 1 Pro+ also has a new ergonomic nose pad that is supposed to make the glasses more comfortable during extended sessions.

You can order the XREAL 1 Pro+ starting today for $599. The launch is through XREAL's website, but XREAL glasses have become available through Amazon and Best Buy in the past, so it's reasonable to expect the XREAL 1 Pro+ to appear at other retailers.

At the time of publication, the XREAL 1 Pro+ glasses had not appeared on the XREAL website. I will update this piece once they are available for purchase.

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Microsoft held a Windows and Surface event last week that focused heavily on the Surface Laptop Ultra. Coincidentally, Panos Panay announced a new device on the same day. Panay, who led Microsoft's hardware division for years, now works for Amazon and unveiled a new range of Amazon Alexa tablets.

Those tablets aren't really direct competition to the Surface Pro, but they do have a feature I'm envious of. The nanomatte screen on one of those Amazon Alexa tablets would be perfect on a Surface Pro.

Matte displays reduce glare by diffusing light. Because the screens bounce light in different directions, the image can appear grainy. An extreme example of this is if you get a cheap matte screen protector for your phone, but even a premium PC with a matte finish can look a bit grainy.

The nanomatte display Amazon uses in its new tablets etches the screen in a way that aligns with the pixels of the display. Amazon praises the displays for providing "a first-of-its-kind cinematic viewing experience, with incredible contrast retention in bright conditions and text that feels like it’s sitting on top of the glass."

I'm not sure I agree with the claim that it's a world first. Apple's nano-texture technology is similar to what Amazon unveiled. But even if Amazon is not a pioneer in the space, it has a device with a screen I'm envious of.

Microsoft has been oddly resistant to anti-glare displays. Surface was late to the party on adding them to any device and has been selective with where it offers the screens.

Even as recently as this year, Surface Laptop 8 shoppers needed to choose between an anti-glare display or 5G connectivity.

Our Editor-in-Chief Daniel Rubino argued back in 2020 that Microsoft needed to use anti-reflective displays in Surface PCs. Anti-reflective screens are different from anti-glare displays, but both aim to improve visibility in bright environments.

Microsoft has yet to fully embrace anti-glare screens and it holds back Surface hardware.

The anti-glare display of the Amazon Alexa Tablet 12 Pro also has a texture that makes pen usage feel more natural. The screen is meant to make it feel like you're writing on paper, not a perfectly smooth piece of glass.

It's not surprising that a device made by Panay has features that would fit perfectly on a Surface. He shaped the Surface brand as much as anyone, and he took his expertise over to Amazon.

But as I mentioned earlier, the Alexa tablets are not competitors to the Surface Pro, so they can't serve as replacements either. The Alexa tablets run on Android and have access to the Google Play Store. That's a welcome change to the locked-down Fire Tablets of the past, but it's a far cry from a Windows-powered 2-in-1.

I'd love to see Microsoft replicate the nanomatte finish of the Amazon Alexa Tablet 12 Pro on a Surface Pro in the future. The finish would help those using the Surface Pro in bright settings and also improve the feel of using a stylus.

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Microsoft Teams will soon have a new feature that will deliver high-quality video to event attendees. An upcoming update to Teams will add the option to share videos directly from OneDrive.

At the moment, sharing video during Teams events often requires screen sharing or embedding videos in PowerPoint. The first solution lowers quality and the second requires extra work. Being able to share a video directly from OneDrive will provide a smoother experience while also improving quality.

Microsoft detailed through the Microsoft 365 Message Center (archived here):

"Microsoft Teams will soon support sharing video directly from OneDrive during Teams events. Organizers and producers using Manage what attendees see can load videos from OneDrive and present them on stage without screen sharing a local media player or embedding videos in PowerPoint. This improvement provides smoother, higher-quality video playback for attendees and simplifies event production through built-in video playback controls."

The feature is expected to start rolling out in early November and should be available to all users by the end of December.

I run an American football team and we study film from games and practices. But because we are not attached to a specific school or building, our players and coaches are spread across the area. That makes film study events easier to schedule, but there are limits to presenting remotely. One of the biggest drawbacks is video quality.

In the past I've had to share my screen and play videos on my desktop, which is both awkward for me and a poor viewing experience for attendees. Videos shared this way can appear laggy and have lower resolution than videos played natively on a device.

I switched away from Microsoft Teams for film study a few years ago due to other changes made to Teams, but support for sharing videos directly from OneDrive will make me try Teams again.

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Microsoft Edge appears to have an AI tool on the way that will fix common issues within the browser. A page within the browser's settings app was spotted recently, though only for those using Edge Canary (a preview version of the app).

The feature was first spotted by Leo Varela, who keeps track of changes to Edge and Chrome. Varela noted that the icon for "Fix an issue" is a magic wand, which suggests it could be an AI tool. Microsoft often uses a similar icon to denote AI features.

Early hints of the feature appeared back in May. The latest version of Edge Canary shows a basic interface for the tool, but the feature is not functional yet.

The interface has a text box for describing an issue and also shows a list of four suggestions, such as "Fix videos that won't play" and "Help me sign in."

Earlier this year, Varela discovered the same feature in a different section of Edge's settings. That listing noted that the feature would use AI to analyze relevant diagnostic data to identify an issue and suggest a solution.

It's normal to see features like this bump along through various preview channels, but it's a bit odd that "Fix an issue" does not appear in the AI at Work Roadmap (previously known as the Microsoft 365 Roadmap).

For example, watermarking protection is on the way to Edge and is not expected to ship to the browser for months, but it is already on the AI at Work Roadmap.

Hopefully the new feature ships to Edge eventually. The latest Edge stories have included a bug freezing web apps and Microsoft removing Edge Drop and real-time video translation with an update. It would be nice to cover an addition next time.

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Microsoft has a new competitor, and it's not a big name like Google or Apple. A developer named Brandon Thomas has created open-source replications of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint using AI. Thomas made headlines recently for using AI to replicate the Adobe suite, and he has now pointed his AI agents at Microsoft 365.

GridCraft (Excel clone), DeckCraft (PowerPoint clone), and WordCraft (Word clone) are made using Claude. They're free to download and you can read more about their development through the ArtCraft GitHub page.

Thomas now has a growing suite of app clones that aim to replicate the functionality and design of the popular suites from Adobe and Microsoft. The situation was summed up brilliantly by Reddit user "EngFL92" who said, "Begun, the clone wars have."

Windows Central take: Proving a point

The concept of replicating apps is nothing new. LibreOffice has been available for years and there are a plethora of apps similar to Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and other Microsoft 365 applications.

WordCraft and other applications made by Thomas are important because they ask the question, "Can AI be used to replace paid industry-leading software suites."

At the moment, I'd say the answer to that question is "no." But the replica Office apps are in the alpha stage of development. We could see the feature gap close and bugs get squashed before general release, assuming Thomas decides to continue the project.

Projects like this often gain notoriety quickly as they get shared online. Microsoft and Adobe are tech giants that charge a lot of money to access software. They're easy targets and I believe some of the passion against the companies is justified.

Thomas said on X that they're "paying back a grudge that has been years in the making," so there seems to be some history there.

Quite the media frenzy has formed around these apps. I suppose I'm a part of that, but I think some outlets have gone too far and argued that the AI-coded clones of the Adobe and Microsoft 365 suites are further along than they really are.

I appreciate the dedication to create apps that compete with some of the best-known software around. Projects like this can demonstrate that some people don't need to pay monthly subscriptions for their entire lives to get work done. But I'd suggest pumping the brakes on narratives along the lines of "vibe coding takes down tech giants in a month."

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Microsoft's blueprint for making Windows 11 apps has received an update that allows developers to try more experimental features. WinUI Gallery just received a bump to version 3.0, and with that update comes a new approach to experimental features.

WinUI Gallery is Microsoft's sample app for developers, showing how Windows UI components work and helping app makers build software that looks and behaves like a native Windows 11 application. It's available through the Microsoft Store.

WinUI Gallery used to receive new controls after those controls had reached a stable Windows App SDK release. Because of that, Microsoft was limited in how much it could change those controls based on feedback. WinUI Gallery now includes the experimental Windows App SDK so developers can play with new controls earlier and provide feedback to Microsoft in time to drive changes.

WinUI Gallery 3.0 also adds some quality of life changes that are outlined by Niels Laute, a Senior Product Manager at Microsoft:

• Mouse back and forward buttons now navigate through the Gallery, just like in your browser (#2195), thanks @hoshiizumiya!
• Search finds more. Every control page now has search tags, so searching for terms like “context menu”, “carousel”, or “WCAG” finds the right page even when the query doesn’t match the control’s name (#2185).
• No more dead ends. When a search has no results, you now see your query, a few search tips, and a button to view all samples (#2255), thanks @Zakariathr22!

Since experimental controls are now in WinUI Gallery 3.0, there are several new samples available in the app, including TableView, Charts, and Wrap Panel and LayoutPanel. Those controls allow apps to present data in a way that's easier to digest.

WinUI Gallery is an app that everyday PC users will likely never download or even see. But it's an important tool for developers who want to create modern applications. The latest update should lead to more quality apps being available on Windows 11.

What is WinUI Gallery?

WinUI Gallery is a developer tool that acts as a digital showroom for Windows app development. Developers can see what UI elements look like on a PC by using the app and see relevant code samples to help create applications that align with Microsoft's design framework and guidelines.

Microsoft has had some form of a digital showroom since 2018, but the app has gone through a few name changes. Its current name is a bit confusing because of similar terms being used in different settings.

The latest update to WinUI Gallery brings that app to version 3.0, so it's referred to as WinUI Gallery 3.0. But despite the similar name, that is different than WinUI 3, which is the framework developers currently use.

Regardless of its slightly confusing name, WinUI Gallery is a useful tool for app development and helps push developers toward making apps that perform well and appear natural on Windows 11 PCs.

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Windows 11 users and Surface enthusiasts had a busy week. Microsoft held an event to showcase the Surface Laptop Ultra, a new Search experience, and a bunch of AI features and integrations across Microsoft services.

Like the original Surface Pro, this week’s Windows and Surface event tried to be a 2-in-1. Unfortunately, just like the first-gen Surface Pro, the event failed to thrive in either of its two categories.

The first 20 minutes of the event felt like a Build session. That’s not a bad thing. Build is an important event for developers. But it’s not aimed at general audiences and is full of technical jargon.

Biggest News of the Week

Anyone who tuned in to the Windows and Surface event hoping for a closer look at the Surface Laptop Ultra would have glazed over at talks of Llama.cpp and Microsoft Execution Containers.

After watching several speakers focus on the technical aspects of AI and development, I assumed the entire event would be like that. Which made the rest of the event confusing.

After filling our eyes and ears with jargon and likely convincing many to stop watching, Microsoft switched gears and showed off a truly useful feature for Windows 11.

The improved Search experience is a consumer-facing feature that is a breath of fresh air to Windows 11. It looks good, is more functional than what it replaces, and according to Microsoft is more efficient while also performing better.

Shortly after unveiling the new Search, Microsoft shared details about the Surface Laptop Ultra. That PC is designed and priced for developers and power users, but it is intriguing to enthusiasts. On top of being the most powerful Surface ever, it has cool features like its magnetic USB-C port.

Microsoft appears confident in the Surface Laptop Ultra. The company’s website now features a banner telling people “break up with your MacBook.”

But the event wasn’t structured in a way that showed the same confidence. The event felt like someone pasted PowerPoint slides from different presentations into a single document.

Who was this event for?

I expected to be frustrated by the Windows and Surface event. I said two weeks ago that Microsoft undercut the event. And I’ve said all year that Surface has lost its identity as a brand.

While I am frustrated, it’s for an entirely different reason than I expected. Microsoft announced interesting things for Windows and Surface. I think the event lived up to its description on YouTube that promised to show "RTX Spark and new experiences designed to unlock more possibilities for developers and builders."

But I don’t think that was shown off in a way that appeals to the masses. The features and devices shown on stage may create buzz, but the event itself did not.

Shopping with Sean

Amazon Prime Big Deal Days came and went, but some of the best tech deals are still live. My top pick is a small discount on the XPS 13 that drops the laptop to $799.99.

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Microsoft's new Surface Laptop Ultra is here. Preorders are live and shipments start next week. The PC packs an RTX Spark processor and has a mini-LED display and a nice range of ports, including the special magnetic USB-C port.

Surprisingly, the Surface Laptop Ultra has the lowest starting price of all the RTX Spark laptops. But Microsoft is pushing to compete with more than just Windows laptops. The tech giant will give you up to $1,000 cash back when you trade in a MacBook Pro and buy a Surface Laptop Ultra.

The cash back you receive would be on top of the trade-in value, not in place of it. Rather than the funds being dispensed at checkout, Microsoft will pay the cash back after receiving and evaluating your device.

"A promotional offer is extra value added to your trade-in when your device and purchase qualify," says Microsoft. "For example, you may receive a promotional bonus in addition to your device's standard trade-in value. The total amount is paid after your device is received and evaluated, not applied at checkout."

If you stack trade-in value with cash back, you can effectively save thousands of dollars on a Surface Laptop Ultra. Of course, that would require you to have a MacBook Pro in excellent condition that has incredibly high specs, all while wanting a Surface instead. I'm not sure how many people will check all those boxes.

Perhaps the bigger news here is that Microsoft specifically made a cash back offer targeting MacBook Pro owners. That's a clear shot at Apple and a sign that Microsoft wants to compete with what are often considered the best laptops on the market.

As you'd expect, the value of your device trade-in depends greatly on the model you're trading in and the condition that device is in. The highest trade-in value I was able to get through Microsoft's website was $2,115 for a MacBook Pro 16-inch (2025) with 128GB of RAM and 4TB of storage.

Interest in the Surface Laptop Ultra has been strong from our readers. It will be interesting to see if that sentiment is widespread and translates to sales.

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Microsoft 365 Family plans now come with 4TB less of OneDrive storage than they did until this week. Microsoft details the change in a support document.

That document frames the change as a positive because it means storage is allocated to users who need it automatically, but the public has had a different reaction. I've received several messages from disappointed users, and other outlets are rightly highlighting consumer outrage. Some people I know have already said they plan to cancel their subscription due to the change.

Regardless of how much storage an individual family actually uses, Microsoft 365 Family now includes substantially less cloud storage than it did before while costing the same amount.

I keep track of the best Microsoft 365 deals and update my piece with discounts regularly. If you know when to hunt, you can get a year of Microsoft 365 Family for $99.99 despite the normal price being $129.99 (the price of Microsoft 365 went up in January 2025). But with the massive 4TB reduction in OneDrive storage, there is no way to retain the value of Microsoft 365 Family. Even if you got it at a discount, you'd be getting less than before.

Considering Microsoft can roll out this change immediately for new and upgraded subscriptions, I understand why some people may hesitate before subscribing to Microsoft 365. Based on the Microsoft support document, Microsoft 365 Family plans will be moved to the shared storage model upon your first renewal on or after May 2, 2027.

Here is the exact phrasing from Microsoft:

"For existing Microsoft 365 Family and Premium subscribers, this change generally takes effect after the first subscription renewal on or after May 2, 2027, unless an eligible plan change occurs earlier."

I interpret that to mean that renewals made before that cutoff should not force you to the shared storage model. If that's accurate, you should be able to stack some time onto your subscription to keep a total of 6TB for a bit longer.

I'd suggest checking with Microsoft before making any purchases. If you receive confirmation from Microsoft that stacking subscriptions delays the change, please let me know. I have also reached out to Microsoft.

Windows Central take

I actually understand Microsoft's argument for having shared storage across a family. I use much more cloud storage than my wife, so it would be convenient to have more than 1TB of storage accessible through my account. My daughter, who is a toddler, only "uses" cloud storage through the photos and videos I back up for her.

But sharing a pool of storage does not make up for reducing the total storage across the plan by 4TB. For my use, I'd be okay with sharing 5TB across the entire family. But any forced reduction in storage is difficult to justify.

Now, during a cost of living crisis, many people will have to look at alternatives to OneDrive or pay to have more cloud storage.

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I love a good wallpaper for my PC, and so do many members of the Windows Central community. When our Editor-in-Chief Daniel Rubino shares a review of a laptop, it's normal to see comments asking how to download his wallpaper.

Microsoft has a similar enthusiasm for wallpapers. Windows Spotlight provides an ongoing stream of excellent images that rotate regularly. The tech giant also creates or commissions wallpapers to go along with major product announcements. Windows 10, Windows 11, and Copilot+ PCs all have their own official wallpapers.

Eagle-eyed viewers of this week's Windows and Surface event spotted what appears to be a new wallpaper from Microsoft. Our Senior Editor was at the event and snapped a shot of the wallpaper displayed across several new RTX Spark laptops.

Unfortunately, Microsoft has not shared the new image, forcing fans to turn to AI.

In response to Bowden's photo, X user @codejake shared a recreation of Microsoft's new wallpaper created with ChatGPT.

That recreation seems to do a fair job of replicating Microsoft's image, though I'm sure there are differences that will become clearer once we get hands on the official wallpaper.

We've seen AI used to create or recreate iconic wallpapers before. Our Senior Editor Ben Wilson used Adobe Photoshop's generative AI to expand a collection of Windows wallpapers.

The legendary Windows XP wallpaper was mixed with the Windows 11 "Bliss" wallpaper by Reddit user "Left_Hovercraft451" earlier this year. I even rocked a color-shifted version of the Bliss wallpaper made to have Windows Central colors for a while.

Until Microsoft shares the new wallpaper, we may have to settle for AI recreations. The first wave of RTX Spark laptops are already available for preorder and will start shipping on October 16, 2026, so we may see the files escape into the wild sooner rather than later.

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At its Windows 11 and Surface event, Microsoft showed off its improved Search experience. The new Search is faster, more efficient, and has a streamlined design that should be easier to scan.

The streamlined Windows Search is about more than finding files or apps, though it can do that. Search can perform tasks, such as switching your PC to dark mode or changing the volume of your computer.

Whether you're more interested in the performance improvements or the new features, there's reason to install the latest builds of Windows 11 that shipped to the Experimental channel and the Experimental channel (26H1). Insiders in those channels can now test the refreshed Search experience with limited support for inline actions.

Microsoft's engineers must have been excited about Windows after its big event, because five Insider builds were released yesterday. Two of them include the refreshed Windows Search. Here's everything that's new across all of the builds.

Windows Search (Experimental, Experimental (26H1))

• New Windows Search experience with inline actions: We're beginning to roll out a new Windows Search experience built on WinUI 3 that is faster, more efficient, and features a streamlined design that makes results easier to scan. We're also introducing inline actions, allowing you to quickly complete tasks directly. Turn on dark mode or Bluetooth, adjust your screen brightness, mute your device, or arrange windows from Windows Search.
• We're improving how Windows Search understands what you're looking for, including better matching for typos and synonyms. We'll continue fine-tuning these improvements over the coming weeks. For more information detailing the new changes, check out the Windows Insider Blog.
• English is the only supported language for this initial release.
• After upgrading to this build, restart your device before the New Windows Search Experience feature flag is visible.

Battery status widget (Experimental)

• As part of our continued commitment to making Widgets more useful for everyday moments, we're introducing the Battery Status widget for Insiders on newer builds. This widget provides a unified view of battery levels for your PC and peripheral devices, helping you quickly assess power status without hunting through multiple UI locations. Add it by going to Widgets board > Add widgets > Battery Status.

Narrator (Experimental (26H1))

• Read and explore math equations with Narrator (see full description in release notes)

Kerberos enhancements (Experimental)

• IAKerb is now enabled by default for Windows client. IAKerb is a Kerberos extension that allows Windows authentication to succeed in scenarios where traditional Kerberos can't be used because a direct connection to a domain controller is unavailable. This extension helps reduce reliance on NTLM while improving compatibility for modern authentication scenarios. For additional background, implementation details, and early preview information, see Reducing NTLM Dependency: IAKerb and LocalKDC in Windows Insider Preview.

Task Manager (Experimental)

• Task Manager is expanding process grouping to allow apps to combine otherwise separate background processes into a single unified category rather than relying solely on traditional parent-child trees. This makes an app's resource usage easier to understand. Microsoft Defender is the first app to use this capability.

Windows Update (Experimental)

• Fixed the issue causing some Insiders with Windows Sandbox enabled to get error 0x80073712 when attempting to install the latest updates.

Security (Experimental)

• We've updated the security key PIN entry experience, removing the "other user" icon for a clearer sign-in experience.

Taskbar (Experimental)

• Fixed an issue impacting some Insiders recently, which was causing the taskbar app window previews to become slower and noticeably lag over time.

Taskbar (Experimental (26H1))

• Improved underlying state persistence of taskbar settings related to multiple monitors across monitor connections and disconnections.

Settings (Experimental)

• Removed the backplate from the Settings icon when UAC is invoked from within Settings.

File Explorer (Experimental)

• Added support for font preview and installation in the File Explorer and desktop context menus.

Other (Experimental)

• Fixed an issue with msmpeg2ac3dec.dll which was leading to some apps and games crashing recently.

General (Experimental (Future Platforms))

• Symbols were missing for our previous flight. They should be available for this one.

Widgets (Beta)

• As part of our continued commitment to making Windows calmer and higher quality, we’re updating the default lock screen widget experience for Insiders on newer builds. With this change, Weather will be the primary widget shown on the lock screen, reducing recommended widget content and making the experience feel more focused. We're also giving users more control of personalizing the widgets on lock, curating the ones they find most useful for them. Users can access these settings by going to Settings > Personalization > Lock screen.

The new Search experience is the biggest change, but I'm also excited about the Battery Status widget that's now available to more Insiders. Microsoft has largely ignored widgets on Windows 11, so it's nice to see a useful one on its way.

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Microsoft just unveiled the new Windows Search experience at its Windows and Surface event. The new Search is more than just a search feature; it's a system composer. That means it can be used to control your PC. Microsoft's Windows lead Pavan Davuluri discussed the new Search experience on stage.

Starting this fall on Windows 11 PCs, users can take thousands of quick actions directly from Search in the Taskbar. For example, you could enable dark mode or switch your PC to Do Not Disturb. You can also adjust your microphone slider through the new Search experience.

You can even use the new Search experience to send a text message through Phone Link.

Microsoft detailed the new Search in a blog post. It also shared some examples of actions you can perform:

• Turn something on or off. Try phrases such as “switch to dark mode”, “turn on night light,” or “turn on Bluetooth.”
• Make a quick adjustment. Try “dim my screen” or “mute.”
• Manage your workspace. Try “minimize all my windows,” or “arrange windows on screen.”

Copilot can be summoned through the new Search as well, showing responses directly within the user interface. You won't have to jump into a separate app to interact with Copilot. If you do want to jump to the full Copilot app, there's a shortcut to do so.

As you'd expect, the new Search experience can also be used to search for things on Windows 11. "At its core, the new Windows search experience is quicker, more efficient, so you can find your files, settings, and apps faster," said Davuluri.

The new Windows Search experience is faster and more efficient with resources because it is built on WinUI 3

Windows Search will better understand what you're searching for. For example, it will still be able to find items even if your input has a typo.

Microsoft will start testing the new Search experience with Windows Insiders today, October 7, 2026. It will appear first through the Experimental channel.

This piece was written during the live stream of the Windows and Surface event. Microsoft is expected to share more details about the new Search experience and other items discussed at the event. We will update this piece with more information as it becomes available.

"Babe?... Babe!? Is everything alright?" If you're in my house on a relaxing weekend afternoon, you'll often hear me trying to get a hold of my wife. I have to ask a few times, not because she's ignoring me, but because she has a pair of noise cancelling headphones on.

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For the last couple of years, my wife has donned a pair of Bose QuietComfort Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones. They're sleek, comfortable, and do a great job blocking out noise. And right now, they're on sale for $190 off.

You may be surprised to hear that I rarely spend a lot of money on gadgets. I love covering tech, but I try to keep my spending down when it comes to laptops, phones, and accessories. That's why it was a major shift when I bought my wife a pair of Bose QuietComfort Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones. Back then, the headphones were newer and closer to full price.

But I wanted to splurge on a gift for my wife. She loves music, audiobooks, and podcasts, so I knew she needed a pair of headphones that she could wear all day. The headset from Bose delivered. They're comfortable, block out noise with active and passive noise cancellation, and last a long time.

They're mostly my wife's headphones, but I use them at least once a month and am frequently reminded of how much I like them. After years of heavy use they show some wear and tear (I just ordered new ear pads), but they still sound great.

The Bose QuietComfort Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones are now a bit older, but they still deliver high-quality audio and are comfortable. They lack some of the bells and whistles you'll see in newer headsets, but they've aged well.

The $190 discount on the Bose QuietComfort Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones makes them easy to recommend.

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Microsoft Outlook will soon be able to save you from a costly mistake in an email. An upcoming feature will automatically spell check your emails before sending them.

Of course, Outlook already has a built-in spell check feature that highlights misspelled words and other mistakes. The new feature adds another layer of proofing by checking for spelling errors before an email is sent.

While spell check catches many mistakes as you type, it's easy to miss a typo in a long email or make an error when responding to messages. Running a final spell check before sending provides one last opportunity to catch mistakes before an email is delivered.

"If you don’t want to check spelling manually for every message—or you’re worried you might forget!—you can set Outlook to check spelling for you every time before sending emails," explains Microsoft through the Microsoft 365 Message Center (archived here).

When enabled, Outlook will review your message before it is sent and flag spelling issues that should be corrected.

The new spell check feature is expected to start rolling out mid-November, but it won't reach everyone until early December. Users in Targeted Release will be able to use the feature as soon as this month.

The new Outlook feature will sound familiar to those who have used Outlook for a long time. Classic Outlook already has the ability to check spelling before an email is sent through the "Always check spelling before sending" setting. Now, the same functionality is on the way to new Outlook.

Microsoft has spent the last several years bringing features from classic Outlook to new Outlook. Microsoft's latest update is another step toward feature parity between the two versions.

Are there any features you rely on that are still missing from new Outlook? Let us know in the comments.

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The Windows App on Windows now has a new way to connect to a Windows PC. Remote PC connections are now supported in the app, creating a unified experience for a broad range of connections.

The Windows App already supported Windows 365, Azure Virtual Desktop, and Microsoft Dev Box. Now, it also allows you to connect to a PC remotely.

The ability to connect to a PC remotely arrives in Windows App following the retirement of the Remote Desktop app. The expanded feature set of the Windows App entered testing in March and now remote PC connections are generally available.

This week's news is that remote PC connections are supported in the Windows App on Windows, but it's worth noting that the Windows App is also available on macOS, iPadOS, Android, and web browsers.

Microsoft outlines how to started with remote PC connections in the Windows App:

1. Make sure Remote Desktop is enabled on the PC you want to connect to.
2. Install or update Windows App from the Microsoft Store.
3. Open Windows App and select Add a Remote PC or select the Add button.
4. Add your remote PC using its PC name or IP address.
5. Select Add or Add and Connect.

When I covered the migration to Windows App earlier this year, our readers listed Remote Desktop Connection (the classic mstsc.exe tool) as their preferred way to connect to a PC remotely. That method is still supported, as Microsoft retired the Remote Desktop app from the Microsoft Store rather than the built-in Remote Desktop Connection client. It will be interesting to see whether people transition to the unified Windows App.

If you used another method of connecting to a PC remotely and have switched to the Windows App, please share your experience in the comments.

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You can now beat the scalpers and ensure that you get what I believe is the most stunning Xbox controller ever made. Pre-orders for the Xbox Wireless Controller X25 Special Edition are live right now!

A translucent green design lets you see the internal components of the controller while also giving you a shot of nostalgia. Fans have wanted a green controller like this for years, and Xbox finally delivered.

An ode to Xbox

Microsoft announced the Xbox Series X25 earlier this year. While that console is gorgeous, those who already have an Xbox Series X may not buy another console just for a refreshed look. But you can celebrate the 25th anniversary of Xbox without spending $899.99.

The Xbox Wireless Controller X25 Special Edition is "OG Green" and has a translucent body. Small touches such as the ABXY buttons matching the original Xbox controller add up to make a stunning controller. The bumpers are even black and white similar to the black and white buttons of the "Duke" controller.

The black Xbox button shines a green light as a throwback to the early days of Xbox. The back of the controller has a see-through panel featuring the classic XBOX logo.

Unfortunately, as with most collectible hardware, scalpers will gobble up a lot of the stock of the Xbox Wireless Controller X25 Special Edition. Locking in a pre-order early is your best bet to avoid inflated resale prices.

Whether you're enjoying the new games that were just announced at the Future Games Show at Gamescom 2026 or playing games you just converted through the Xbox disc-to-digital program, the Xbox Wireless Controller X25 Special Edition will be a gorgeous companion.

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PowerToys is one of my favorite Windows apps, and the Windows Central team follows the app's development closely. Normally, I highlight new PowerToys utilities or the favorite additions of the main man behind PowerToys. But sometimes the layout of PowerToys deserves a highlight.

A new Welcome screen is on the way to PowerToys, and it's so gorgeous that I'm a bit disappointed that most people will only see it when initially installing the app. The engaging out-of-box-experience (OOBE) uses a Windows feature called Composition, allowing it to render at 60 FPS. The clip shared on X by Niels Laute doesn't quite do the welcome screen justice due to compression, but the animation is still impressive.

This is more than just a fun animation. Creating a usable user interface that also performs well is much more difficult than creating a mockup.

Similarly to how PowerToys acts as a playground for developers to make features that occasionally get integrated into Windows 11, the new welcome screen showcases something WinUI apps can do.

Laute highlighted that the new welcome screen relies on Composition, which sits below WinUI. Developers can use it to render visual effects, and it can also manipulate UI controls because of how performant it is. If you use the Microsoft Store, you've likely seen animations that rely on Composition without realizing it.

A pull request on GitHub discusses the welcome screen in more detail. A Microsoft support document details the layers of Windows 11 and how Composition plays a role.

I admit that swooning over fluid animations and interactive welcome screens is a bit nerdy. Millions of Windows 11 users will never notice what type of animation an app has. But attention to detail adds up and creates a better overall experience.

Earlier this year, I argued that faster performance won't save Windows 11 if Microsoft's apps are laggy web wrappers. The new welcome screen of PowerToys is a small change to users that would go a long way if extended to other Microsoft apps.

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Prime Big Deal Days are here, and that means big savings on the hottest tech. Microsoft Surface sales slash hundreds of dollars off the Surface Pro, Surface Laptop, and Surface accessories.

Best Buy and other retailers are running competing sales alongside Prime Big Deal Days, so the best Surface deals are spread across the web. You'll also see prices fluctuate as stock runs out or sits for too long. I've scoured the web for the best Surface deals, and our team at Windows Central will keep this piece up to date with the best discounts.

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You'll notice that I don't list the Surface Pro 12-inch or Surface Laptop 13-inch below. That's because those PCs have new versions with Snapdragon X2 processors launching next week. You can still buy older models with first-gen Snapdragon X chips, but I'd recommend waiting until the new generation ships to see where prices fall on older devices.

Surface Pro (13-inch)

Surface Laptop 8

Accessories

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