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Windows 11 Insider builds reveal an updated AutoPlay menu for external media, which remained unchanged since Windows 8. Currently appearing in the upper-right corner without dark theme support, this component is being modernized under the Windows K2 initiative. The new WinUI 3 design features rounded corners, large icons, and dark mode. Microsoft is also relocating the menu to the screen center, as in Windows 7. Additionally, the updated window allows users to immediately choose whether to apply actions like "Always" or "Only once."

📁 Here's a first look at a major Windows 11 context menu update with improved performance, customization, and stability. The new menu includes a "Customize" entry linking to Settings, allowing users to toggle actions like "Send," "Print," "Create Shortcut," "Copy as Path," and "Rotate Image." Third-party and cloud storage options can be grouped separately or disabled. Users can also re-arrange commands, restoring the vertical layout for "Cut," "Copy," and "Paste" instead of the default horizontal bar. Most optional actions are disabled by default to ensure speed and stability; hidden items can be manually enabled on a new dedicated page in Settings. The legacy full menu remains accessible via a Registry tweak, though a toggle still is not implemented anywhere in the GUI. Microsoft plans to unveil this update soon.

🔄 Insider Updates 🔵Windows 11 builds 26100.9267 and 26200.9267, Release Preview channel, KB5120998. The update adds taskbar placement options at the top, bottom, left, or right, a smaller taskbar option, and a default expanded Taskbar Behavior section. It also improves system tray stability on PCs without touchscreens. The Start menu now supports small or large layouts, renames Recommended to Recent, lets users hide their name and profile picture, and adds switches for Pinned, Recommended, and All sections. Search now looks simpler, shows clearer result sources, and can include web results and Microsoft Store suggestions. Windows also indexes frequently used folders automatically. 🔵 Windows 11 build 28000.2796, KB5120996, Release Preview . The update improves File Explorer, Search, Voice Access, Widgets, touchpad gestures, and the Start menu, while also fixing display, stability, and reliability issues across the system. File Explorer now shows file sizes in KB, MB, or GB in Table view, and it supports middle click opening of folders in new tabs from the address bar and Home page. Search now handles typos and incomplete app names better, and it ranks settings results more effectively. Voice Access adds Voice Isolation, Korean language support, and improved launch reliability. The update also changes taskbar notification icons to use the Windows accent color, simplifies Lock Screen widgets for new users, improves Windows Hello with peripheral fingerprint scanner support, and lets users uninstall the Image Generation AI component on supported Copilot+ PCs.

If you use Google Chrome often, you have probably seen the Sign in with Google popup on all kinds of websites. It appears over the page content, grabs your attention, and pushes you toward a quick login flow. Chrome enables this third party sign in behavior by default, but you can turn it off if you find it distracting. 1) On Windows, Mac, or Linux, open Chrome, go to Settings, then Privacy and security, Site settings, Additional permissions, Additional content settings, and then Third party sign ins. 2) Choose Block sign-in prompts from identity services to turn it off. 3) On Android, open Chrome Settings, tap Site settings, then Third party sign ins, and select the same block option. Finally, If you only want to stop the popup on one website, open that site, click the icon next to the address bar, go to Site settings, and block third-party sign ins there. Chrome on iPhone and iPad may handle this differently, so Google account security settings may also need to be checked. You can also review connected sites in your Google Account under Security and remove old access if needed.

💵 Microsoft has reportedly raised Windows license prices for some OEMs by 7% to 10%, according to a Taiwanese report. While license fees usually rise each year, the increase this time appears to be much larger than the modest adjustments manufacturers have seen in the past. One industry executive said the jump became especially noticeable in July. Because Windows licenses are typically built into the cost of new PCs, the higher fees are likely being passed on to consumers. The report says some laptop retail prices have already reflected the change, though the exact impact will vary by brand and device. Since Windows licensing costs differ by customer, the final price increase is not uniform across the market. The timing is especially difficult for the PC industry, which is already dealing with a shortage of computer memory. Analysts expect that shortage to continue pushing up component and device prices, making Microsoft’s move feel even more painful for buyers and manufacturers alike. Microsoft declined to comment on the report.

💻 Cumulative update KB5121000 for Windows 11 version 26H1, build 28000.2704 is now available. The update includes the fixes and improvements from the earlier optional KB5101681 preview and is aimed at the new Snapdragon X2-based devices. It also tightens reliability across Windows Update, File Explorer, Bluetooth, printing, networking, and system stability. Widgets are being made quieter and less cluttered, with hover opening disabled by default, fewer taskbar badges, and improved memory use. Accessibility also gets a boost with Screen Tint and more precise Magnifier zoom controls. File Explorer startup is faster, Bluetooth audio and call handling are more dependable, and Voice Access plus Voice Typing now support French, German, and Spanish on Copilot+ PCs. The update also improves performance and compatibility. Microsoft has refined networking for virtual machines, WSL, VPNs, and Wi‑Fi stability; added better touchpad right-click zone controls; improved graphics rendering and color profiles; and fixed several app, MDM, storage, and PowerShell issues.

⚙️Microsoft has released KB5121003 for Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2, adding bug fixes, security updates, and usability improvements. The update improves File Explorer, search, voice access, widgets, touchpad gestures, the Start menu, voice input, and system stability. It also adds Windows Hello support for external fingerprint scanners, restores font behavior for Myanmar Text, improves power and battery settings, and refines Windows Update, sound, time zone, DHCP, printing, and clipboard performance. In addition, it fixes issues with DFS file labeling, MDM compliance, and File History backups to SMB network shares.

🔵Patch Tuesday stuff Windows 11 * Windows 11 (version 26H1) - KB5121000 (OS Build 28000.2704). ⬇️ Microsoft Update Catalog. * Windows 11 (version 25H2) - KB5121003 (OS Build 26200.9168). ⬇️ Microsoft Update Catalog. * Windows 11 (version 24H2) - KB5121003 (OS Build 26100.9168). ⬇️ Microsoft Update Catalog. * Windows 11 (version 23H2) - KB5120240 (OS Build 22631.7517). ⬇️ Microsoft Update Catalog. Windows 10 * 2022 Update (version 22H2) - KB5120249 (OS Build 19045.7663). ⬇️ Microsoft Update Catalog. * November 2021 Update (version 21H2) - KB5120249 (OS Build 19044.7663). ⬇️ Microsoft Update Catalog. * October 2018 Update (version 1809) - KB5120238 (OS Build 17763.9121). ⬇️ Microsoft Update Catalog. * Anniversary Update (version 1607) - KB5120418 (OS Build 14393.9418). ⬇️ Microsoft Update Catalog.

Last week, Microsoft faced criticism for forcibly installing the OneDrive Photos app on Windows 11 devices. The controversy centered on automatic installation on managed corporate devices without IT staff knowledge. The app requires personal Microsoft accounts, rendering it useless on corporate systems. Microsoft acknowledged the issue. OneDrive Photos, part of the OneDrive client, was automatically installed with the latest update to the main app. The app aims to bring the web and mobile photo experience to Windows 11 desktops. Now Microsoft is addressing the problem. New tools in the Microsoft 365 roadmap will grant system administrators and users greater control over the OneDrive Photos app. The first feature, registry number 568931, targets IT professionals. It allows administrators to prevent employees from signing in with personal Microsoft accounts on corporate devices. This feature launches in August 2026. The second change, 568934, scheduled for September 2026, allows users to delete OneDrive Photos independently of the OneDrive cloud service client. This procedure will not affect the main OneDrive client or file synchronization.

🌐 Not only Chrome: Microsoft Edge will begin phasing out Manifest V2 (MV2) extensions in August 2026, with consumer support expected to end by the close of 2026 and enterprise deprecation following in early 2027. Microsoft says the transition reflects its long-standing shift toward Manifest V3 (MV3), which offers stronger security and better performance. According to them, 95% of the top MV2 extensions in the Edge Add-ons store have already moved to MV3, and only a small number of MV2 extensions still see meaningful usage. During the rollout, users with MV2 extensions will see warnings in Edge and on add-on pages, while developers will receive notices in Partner Center and direct help with migration. The phaseout will start in Canary, Dev, and Beta channels before reaching Stable. The main loss here are add-ons like uBlock Origin. While the author of the latter already offers a MV3 variant of the ad blocker, it is still notably behind the MV2 counterpart. Moreover, not each and every extension has a newer MV3 option, so for some users the upcoming change may be painful. FYI, the latest Chrome to date made it impossible to revive uBlock Origin by removing all the required flags.

🎮 Xbox has started rolling out a new console update for Xbox Insiders, with an initial focus on Alpha Skip Ahead users. The update aims to make gameplay capture, achievement tracking, and game management simpler. Some features will appear in stages, so they may not show up right after installation. One major change lets eligible users include voice chat audio in gameplay clips, with each player still controlling whether their voice can be recorded. Achievement history also gets better sorting tools, so users can organize games by title, completion percentage, Gamerscore, or unlocked achievements. The update also adds more control over cloud saves in supported games, starting with Forza Horizon 6. Users can restore earlier synced save files directly from the console. In addition, Xbox now lets all users add up to 1,000 games to their wishlist, which makes it easier to track titles to play or buy later.

Microsoft is expanding Xbox backward compatibility in a big way. After bringing original Xbox games to PC, Windows 11 handhelds, and devices like the ROG Ally, it now plans to do the same for Xbox 360 games. The company is going to make Xbox 360 games run on the next-generation Project Helix console, Xbox, PC, and handheld consoles. A developer document says studios will decide whether their Xbox 360 games join backward compatibility, along with pricing and Game Pass availability. The feature is expected to roll out between 2027 and 2028 on "next-generation devices." The full release of backward compatibility for the original Xbox will take place in October 2026. The document also describes a disc-to-digital system for Xbox One and Series games: inserting a disc would create a transferable digital license tied to the disc and account, preserving resale and trade-in value.

🌐 Google plans to add dynamic patching to Chrome. It would fix vulnerabilities without requiring a full browser restart. This also allows applying changes on the fly to executable files and then replace child processes one by one, including rendering and GPU interaction processes. Google sees a need for updates that do not force a browser restart because many users avoid restarting when updates are available. In addition to dynamic patching, Google is working on a more advanced session recovery system that keeps more settings stored locally. It is also developing heuristics to choose the best time for an automatic restart, with the goal of restoring the session without disruption.

🔵 Windows 11 will work much faster on devices with 8 GB of RAM. Microsoft says it has spent the last four months improving Windows 11 quality, with broader updates arriving this fall. The main new priorities are faster setup, lower memory use on 8 GB PCs, better family features, and stronger voice control. Alongside these, the company still wants smoother performance, greater reliability, more taskbar and widget customization, fewer Windows Update disruptions, and a better Insider and Feedback Hub experience. The recent preview work already includes a less intrusive Search Box, more personalized Start and Taskbar options, and ongoing File Explorer fixes. Microsoft is also pushing more WinUI 3 into the Windows shell to make the system lighter and faster, while improving connectivity, app launches, boot times, and sign-in reliability. Microsoft also wants a faster and more efficient out of box experience. The company is developing a new version of the OOBE flow to make first time setup more intuitive and more convenient. Family and Voice are also the new priorities. Microsoft says it wants to speed up family setup and simplify access to parental control features. It also says voice will become a more important input method, alongside the keyboard and mouse, and it wants voice interaction to feel more natural inside the operating system and across everyday apps.

🌐 Microsoft Edge 151.0.4129.59 is now rolling out on the Stable channel, bringing several updates and fixes. Microsoft says users on Edge 136 and earlier will lose web translation support after July 30, 2026, so updating the browser is recommended. The Drop feature is also being retired, with shared files saved to OneDrive and text notes requiring separate downloads. The release adds clipboard suggestions in the address bar, passkey sync for enterprise users, and new macOS requirements for Edge 151. Enterprise users also lose access to the Sidebar app list, while a bug affecting third-party extensions on m365.cloud.microsoft has been fixed. Microsoft added new policies for clipboard suggestions, reading mode extraction, and process isolation, plus macOS support for several enterprise connector policies.

♣️♦️ Windows 7 games, installer version 4.3. Fixed these bugs: - If Chess were not selected, the setup didn't install the fallback en-US mui files for the rest of the games. This made the menu and other controls disappear on localized Windows versions for those who do not play chess. - If you deselect some game, the installer still offers a checkbox to create a desktop shortcut for that game.

🔄 Insider Updates 🔵 Windows 11 build 29639.1000, optional preview for Insiders in the Experimental channel (future platforms). The update is available to users who have enabled the “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” toggle and includes a small set of changes and improvements. One change lets users extend the Windows Update pause period an unlimited number of times, giving them more flexibility over when updates install. Another adds gamepad navigation support to the Bluetooth quick settings page in Settings, making it easier to use with a controller. For administrators, Microsoft has also expanded the smart card removal policy. They can now automatically disconnect Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows 365 sessions that use Microsoft Entra ID authentication when a redirected smart card is removed. This helps organizations better meet security and compliance requirements. -- 🔵 Windows 11 build 28120.2630, Experimental (26H1) channel, brings a small set of fixes and improvements. The biggest change is a new unified update process that should reduce monthly reboots by bundling driver, .NET, firmware, and cumulative updates into a single restart. Users can also now pause updates an unlimited number of times. The build also updates the Windows Insider certificate ahead of its August 11, 2026 expiration, and refines adaptive hibernation to improve resume behavior and battery savings. Precision touchpad settings gain new gesture controls for scrolling and zooming, including automatic, accelerated, and one-finger scrolling. Microsoft fixed File History backups over SMB, a File Explorer DFS download warning issue, and a cursor blinking bug. A known compatibility problem still affects PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, which may not launch after installation. -- 🔵Windows 11 Build 28020.2623, Beta (26H1) channel. The update includes minor fixes, along with a new unified update process designed to cut monthly reboots by combining driver, .NET, firmware, and cumulative updates into one restart. It also adds an updated Windows Insider certificate and several touchpad improvements, including adjustable scrolling speed, automatic scrolling, accelerated scrolling, and one-finger edge scrolling. Microsoft is also testing taskbar changes such as alternate screen positions and a smaller taskbar option. The build fixes a File History backup issue affecting SMB network shares and a File Explorer bug that wrongly flagged files on mounted DFS drives as unsafe after reconnecting to the internet. -- 🔵 Windows 11 Build 26300.9032, Experimental channel. The update adds an updated Insider certificate, with Microsoft urging users to install it before the current testing certificate expires on August 11, 2026. The build also improves search across Windows and in Settings, with smarter indexing, broader results, and better ranking. Phone connection in the Start menu now shows more detail in recent messages and notifications, while adaptive hibernation has been tuned for better resume behavior and battery savings. Several bugs were fixed in Start menu, Taskbar, File Explorer, Windows Spotlight, and Storage. Explorer now remembers section states, handles disconnected drives more smoothly, and fixes issues with DFS files and File History backups to SMB shares. -- 🔵 Windows 11 Beta build, 26220.9022 focuses on refinements, fixes, and new taskbar options. It updates the Windows Insider certificate so devices stay on supported Insider builds and keep receiving future updates before the current certificate expires on August 11, 2026. The biggest change is taskbar customization: users can now move the taskbar to the top, left, or right, and choose a smaller taskbar size for more screen space. Microsoft is still working on touch gestures and some related features. The build also adds gamepad navigation for Bluetooth quick settings and fixes several bugs, including Windows Update rollback errors, File History backup failures on SMB network shares, and a File Explorer issue that incorrectly flagged DFS files as unsafe.

📁 Microsoft is updating Windows 11 context menus to make them faster, more stable, and easier to customize. The current menus have become bloated (and slow) with items from Microsoft and third-party apps, which can cause a delay of one to two seconds on some PCs when users right-click. The problem stands out most on systems with many installed programs. So Microsoft is building a compact version of the menu that focuses on the most common actions and skips heavy third-party extensions. That should improve both speed and reliability. 🛠 Microsoft also showed a customization feature at a Windows Insider event in London. It will let users hide unwanted commands, keep only useful items, and rearrange menu entries. A Customize option will appear at the bottom of the list of the menu items. ✂️Image courtesy of Windows Central

🌐 Google released Chrome 151. The update adds automatic hiding for the bookmarks bar on the new tab page, wider AI chat access in the address bar, and expanded Gemini support in the United Kingdom and 14 other countries. Users can now upload files to Gemini, ask questions about them, and generate Google Docs, spreadsheets, and PDF files. Chrome 151 also improves the built in PDF viewer with text annotation tools, including support for signatures and editable text fields. Google changed the AI based Safe Browsing model to detect malicious sites earlier and expanded AI chat button support to all search engines that offer the feature. The browser also drops the AllowLegacyMV2Extensions flag, making impossible to install uBlock Origin. RIP. Also it adds a Rust based XML parser, updates profile setup on Linux, macOS, and Windows, and ends support for macOS 12. Finally, Google fixed 370 vulnerabilities, including seven critical ones.