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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 technology explainer details how safely removing external drives depends on the operating system, noting that Windows 10 defaults removable drives to a 'Quick removal' policy that reduces risk but lowers performance. It warns that Mac background tasks like Time Machine and Spotlight, and Linux's reliance on write caching, can make sudden disconnection more likely to cause data loss or corruption.
Kalmuri is a free, portable Windows utility that combines screenshots, screen recording, and OCR text extraction in one app. It supports full-screen or area capture in formats like PNG, JPG, BMP and GIF, plus MP4 video recording via an added FFmpeg component, along with color picking, hotkeys, floating image previews, and a built-in browser for capturing full webpages. It requires no installation, so it can run from a USB drive.
Microsoft's Windows Subsystem for Android, once planned to let Windows 11 run Android apps natively, was discontinued in 2024. Users now rely on third-party emulators like BlueStacks and NetEase's MuMuPlayer, or Google's Play Games for PC, which streams a limited catalog of opted-in Android games via a lightweight virtual machine. Windows 11's Phone Link can also mirror a connected Android phone's screen and apps, though it runs the apps on the phone rather than the PC.
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.
Microsoft has paused rollout of KB5002907, an update meant for outdated Microsoft 365 Apps installations, after users reported it deactivated or removed perpetual Office 2016 and Office 2019 installs. Belgian MSP owner Christian Van Hautte said five unrelated clients contacted him within about ten minutes on September 24, with dozens of PCs showing an 'Unlicensed Product' error. He found that re-entering original product keys restored activation, and said the update installed automatically despite being labeled optional.
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.