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A new how-to guide recommends disabling Xbox Game Bar, switching Windows Search back to Classic indexing, and pausing OneDrive sync to free up system resources during PC gaming. The guide explains step-by-step navigation through Windows Settings to turn off these background features, arguing that tools like Steam already cover most gaming needs that Game Bar provides.
Microsoft has released a redesigned Photos app for Windows 11 that merges photos and videos from a user's PC, OneDrive, and iCloud into one gallery, requiring OneDrive Camera Backup and iCloud for Windows to be set up. The update also rebuilds the editor with four new tool categories—Crop, Enhance, Repair, and Stylize—and speeds up app launch, scrolling, and image viewing, while adding support for HDR preservation, HEIC/WebP editing, and SVG files. The update is rolling out now to Windows Insiders, with a broader release planned later this year.
Microsoft told Family and Premium subscribers it will let up to five other people on a plan use Copilot and AI features, which were previously limited to the primary account holder. The company is also replacing per-feature AI limits with a single shared AI usage allowance, and converting the current 1TB-per-person OneDrive storage into a shared 2TB pool, effective after each subscriber's first renewal following May 2, 2027.
Microsoft announced it will change how storage and AI credits work across Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, Premium, and Pro subscriptions in the coming months. Instead of each family member getting a fixed 1TB OneDrive allowance, plans will share a single pool, shrinking Family and Premium plans from a potential 6TB combined total down to 2TB. AI usage credits will also move to a shared pool across subscribers.
Windows 11 marks its fifth anniversary since launching on October 5, 2021, a tenure marked by hardware compatibility fights, pressure to use online Microsoft accounts, and the rocky rollout of Copilot+ PCs and the Recall app. Microsoft has just begun rolling out the 26H2 update, which it describes as aiming for a 'predictable and low-disruption' experience rather than major new features.
Samsung has ended OneDrive integration in its Gallery app as of September 30, 2026, removing the in-app 'Sync with OneDrive' option. In its place, Gallery now offers direct syncing with Google Photos, though only personal Google accounts are supported, not Workspace accounts. Existing OneDrive backups remain intact, and users can still back up to OneDrive manually through Microsoft's own app.
Microsoft has acknowledged that its September 2026 security updates cause the legacy File History backup tool to fail on multiple Windows 10 and 11 versions. Affected PCs may show FileHistory.exe crashes in Event Viewer, false 'Reconnect your drive' warnings, and backups that stop updating even though the external or network drive is connected properly.
A tech guide outlines how users should back up their Windows or Mac laptops before discarding or replacing them, using tools like Windows Backup, OneDrive, Time Machine, and iCloud, along with third-party software for local drive backups. It also advises checking synced browser data, removing dongles or SD cards, and signing out of accounts and software licenses before disposal.
Samsung is rolling out a new option letting Gallery app users sync photos and videos directly to Google Photos, replacing the native Microsoft OneDrive integration that shuts down September 30. The feature requires a compatible Samsung phone running Android 13 or later and a personal (non-Workspace, non-supervised) Google account, and is rolling out gradually with availability varying by device, region and account type.
Samsung has started rolling out a Google Photos integration within its Gallery app, adding a new 'Sync photos and videos' option under settings that lets users automatically back up their photos and videos through Google's cloud service. The rollout follows Samsung's earlier confirmation that it was ending its OneDrive backup partnership with Microsoft in favor of a new deal with Google, and the feature is currently appearing for some users on Samsung Gallery version 15.9.01.7.
Microsoft confirmed widespread service degradation across its 365 suite, affecting Outlook, OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, Copilot and Universal Print. Users reported problems sending or receiving emails, loading files, and accessing print jobs, though Microsoft says availability has largely stabilized above 99 percent.
Perplexity has extended its agentic AI feature, previously exclusive to Mac, to Windows 10 and 11 users on paid Pro, Max, or Enterprise plans. The tool can access local files, control native Windows applications, and connect to cloud services like OneDrive, Google Drive, Box, and Dropbox to complete multi-step tasks with minimal user input. A ZDNET reviewer tested it on five complex tasks to gauge its real-world usefulness.