Microsoft has turned on its Windows settings backup and restore tool by default for Microsoft Entra-joined and Entra hybrid-joined enterprise devices upgraded to Windows 11 26H2, released September 29. The feature, previously opt-in since its 2024 unveiling and general availability in August 2025, now backs up settings and app lists automatically unless an admin has already configured the policy. Restore still requires explicit admin setup, and the default-on change excludes devices in DMA-regulated regions or sovereign/restricted cloud environments.
Microsoft has released Windows 11 version 26H2 to the stable channel as a 174 KB 'enablement package' that activates features already delivered through prior monthly updates rather than introducing new code. It shares the same underlying build as 25H2 and 24H2, part of the Germanium release, and adds no new functionality on its own but switches on dormant tools across the Start menu, Taskbar, File Explorer, Search, Task Manager, AI settings, and more.
Microsoft has released WSL Containers to general availability, letting Windows 11 developers build, run and deploy Linux containers natively through Windows Subsystem for Linux. The update adds a wslc.exe management tool, GPU support, networking improvements, health checks, storage mounts, and integration with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint and Intune. Microsoft says file access from Linux environments to Windows storage can now run up to twice as fast, though Compose support is still missing and listed as a priority.
Microsoft has begun the general rollout of Windows 11's 26H2 update, its annual feature release for 2026. Because 24H2, 25H2 and 26H2 share the same underlying servicing branch and code base, most new features were already delivered gradually through monthly updates, so installing 26H2 behaves more like a routine monthly patch than a full OS upgrade for devices already on 24H2 or 25H2.
Engadget tested a midrange Dell XPS 13 with 16GB of RAM after reviewing the base $700 model, which ships with only 8GB. The reviewer found that even with no extra apps open, Windows 11 consumed over half the 16GB unit's memory at idle, suggesting the 8GB base model would leave little headroom for everyday use.
A new independent website called 'Definitely Not Windows / Windows 11½' presents a fake operating-system interface satirizing modern Microsoft products, including subscription prompts, ads, AI features, forced updates and storage warnings. The site explicitly states it is unaffiliated with Microsoft and includes a Clippy-themed visitor counter that assigns users an anonymous, persistent visitor number.
A tech guide outlines how users can strip Windows 11 of pre-installed third-party apps, ad modules and data-collection features that Microsoft and hardware partners bundle into the OS by default. It recommends a combination of manual uninstalls, settings changes, and a targeted third-party debloating tool as the safest approach, while noting no method is entirely risk-free.
A researcher documented a Windows bug triggered by copying files from a Video CD's MPEGAV folder, which causes copy speed to drop to zero and leaves Explorer in a broken state—new files become invisible, parts of the UI glitch, and Explorer cannot be restarted. The only fix is a hard restart, since a normal restart hangs indefinitely at the 'Restarting' screen. The issue was traced to monthly updates released in March 2023 for Windows 11 (KB5023706) and April 2023 for Windows 10 (KB5025221); unpatched versions of Windows 10 and 11 22H2 don't exhibit the bug.
Microsoft Surface CVP Brett Ostrum told Windows Central that new laptops meeting the Copilot+ hardware requirements are no longer being labeled with the Copilot+ badge, even though the underlying NPU and performance specs remain. Devices like the upcoming Nvidia RTX Spark N1X and Microsoft's own Project Zenith are shipping without the branding, and Microsoft says it's scaling back Copilot's visible presence in Windows 11 while promising better performance and reliability, including optimization for 8GB RAM systems.
A tech guide outlines specific Windows 11 settings menus where users can turn off promotional content, including Start menu app recommendations, lock screen tips, search highlights, and personalized offers found under Settings > Recommendations & offers. It also suggests adjusting notification settings to remove 'Suggested' items and checking Installed Apps for manufacturer bloatware that can be uninstalled.
Windows Central reports that Microsoft and its hardware partners have quietly stopped using the 'Copilot+ PC' branding introduced in 2024. None of the Surface PCs launched in 2026 carry the moniker in their names, unlike earlier models, and Nvidia's upcoming RTX Spark platform—despite meeting the spec requirements—also avoids the label. The underlying technical requirements for Copilot+ PC hardware still exist, but the marketing name is increasingly absent from spec sheets and product listings.
Researchers identified a double-fetch flaw in Avast's kernel driver that can lead to a pool overflow, potentially allowing code execution outside the antivirus sandbox. The flaw involves multiple reads of the same user-supplied data, which can be manipulated between fetches. Recent Windows updates mitigate this issue by enforcing user-mode access checks, reducing the exploit's viability.
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