PowerToys version 0.98.0 has been released, featuring a revamped Keyboard Manager interface built with WinUI3 for improved usability. A new Command Palette Dock allows users to pin their favorite tools for quick access, streamlining workflow for power users. Additionally, the update addresses long-standing issues with multi-monitor setups, enhancing cursor wrapping and Always On Top functionality. This release focuses on resolving practical frustrations rather than adding unnecessary features, making it a valuable tool for daily users

Microsoft has released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 28020.1737 to Windows Insiders in the Canary Channel, featuring refinements to pen settings and a new option for the pen tail button that aligns with Copilot's functionality. The updated Pen settings page now organizes options for easier access and allows users to disable pressure sensitivity for specific apps, streamlining workflows for artists and designers. Additionally, the pen tail button can now be customized to perform actions similar to those triggered by the Copilot key, enhancing user efficiency. It's important to note that features in the Canary Channel may roll out gradually, and not all users will see the updates simultaneously

Microsoft has released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26300.8068 (KB 5079464) to the Dev Channel, introducing new features aimed at IT administrators. Notable updates include a dynamic list for removing preinstalled Microsoft Store apps, a customizable user folder naming option during setup, and stricter policies for cross-signed drivers that now require WHCP approval. Additionally, enhancements to the Point-in-Time restore wizard improve user experience by adding a settings dialog and clearer prompts. Other changes include a rebranding of the Drag Tray to Drop Tray, updates to pen settings, and fixes for display language reliability and the sfc/scannow error

Microsoft has released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.8062 (KB 5079458) to users in the beta channel, introducing practical tweaks aimed at both IT professionals and everyday users. Key updates include a policy-based approach for administrators to remove preinstalled Microsoft apps, the ability to customize user folder names during setup, and enhancements to the driver policy for improved security. Additionally, the update features a renamed "Drop Tray," refinements in pen settings, and a pause in the rollout of new context menu changes for further improvements. Overall, these updates aim to enhance user experience and security within Windows 11

Windows 11 Preview Builds 26100.8106 and 26200.8106 introduce AI-powered Narrator features and make Smart App Control toggleable for all PCs. The Narrator now allows users to instantly describe images and share them while maintaining privacy, significantly enhancing workflow efficiency. Additionally, the Smart App Control feature can be easily turned on or off without requiring a clean reinstall, streamlining user experience. Other improvements include a refreshed Settings layout, more reliable file unblocking in File Explorer, and various minor enhancements for better performance and usability

The Windows Package Manager (winget) has released version 1.28.220 RC, introducing new features such as a source edit command and an experimental listDetails option for richer output. Users can now toggle between implicit and explicit sources, and control log file sizes with the new --log-size-limit option, preventing excessive storage use. Additionally, the update addresses several bugs related to portable packages, configuration agreements, and font installation scripts. Overall, these improvements enhance the functionality and usability of winget, making it more script-friendly and efficient for system administrators

Microsoft has released .NET 11 Preview 2, which addresses common runtime issues and enhances performance with several new features. A significant addition is the "Runtime Async (V2)" feature that eliminates deadlocks from mixing async code with older synchronization methods. The update also optimizes the SDK size for Linux and macOS installers, incorporates native OpenTelemetry tracing in ASP.NET Core, and introduces new functionalities in Entity Framework Core and .NET MAUI. Developers can experiment with these updates by downloading the SDK from Microsoft's site and using "--preview" in their build commands

The Visual Studio Code 1.111 release introduces AI-centric features designed to improve user efficiency, including an adjustable permissions picker and a new debug snapshot attachment function. Users can enable the Autopilot feature, which allows the built-in agent to auto-approve tool calls and retry on errors, although it bypasses safety checks, necessitating user caution. The update also enhances terminal usability with a dedicated AI profile group and offers extension authors improved local-string IntelliSense capabilities. Additional improvements include structured onboarding chat tips, agent-scoped hooks for custom processing logic, and various bug fixes to enhance overall performance

Microsoft has released Visual Studio Code 1.110.1 to fix security vulnerabilities in its core engine and the Copilot Chat extension. Users can update to the latest version by accessing the Command Palette with Ctrl+Shift+P and selecting "Check for Updates," which will preserve user settings and extensions. The update addresses issues that caused project crashes due to previous updates and improves performance, especially for users with limited RAM. If users experience lag with Copilot Chat, they may consider disabling the extension to free up resources

Microsoft has released TypeScript 6.0.1 RC, which introduces configuration changes to ensure existing projects can continue compiling while preparing for the upcoming TypeScript 7.0. To install the release candidate, users can run `npm install -D typescript@rc` and make necessary adjustments in their `tsconfig`, such as setting "strict": false for previously tolerated sloppy code and specifying "module": "commonjs" for non-ESM targets. The update also deprecates certain flags and offers new features like the experimental `--stableTypeOrdering` flag, which aligns union ordering with future releases. Users are advised to monitor deprecation warnings and test their codebase early to catch any issues before the full release

The Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 28020.1685 introduces significant enhancements, such as the removal of persistent update files and improved reliability for the "Free up space" function in Storage settings. Additionally, File Explorer has gained a new voice-typing feature, allowing users to rename files using their voice without the need for a keyboard or external microphone. While not all users will immediately access these features due to staggered rollouts, they can enable quicker updates through Insider settings. Overall, these updates aim to enhance user experience by streamlining file management and storage cleanup

The Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26300.7965 introduces several enhancements aimed at power users, including the reintroduction of Administrator protection, which allows for just-in-time elevation of admin rights for improved security and convenience. The drag tray has been redesigned with a smaller peek window to prevent accidental file sharing during use. Additionally, users can now rename files using voice typing with a simple Windows + H command, and the annoying white flash that occurred when launching or resizing File Explorer has been eliminated for a smoother experience. Other improvements include faster unblocking of downloaded files, enhancing the overall usability of the system

Microsoft has released the Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7961, which re-enables Administrator Protection to prevent rogue software from gaining full control of users' systems while allowing legitimate tasks to proceed. The update also introduces refinements to the drag tray, minimizing accidental taskbar launches, and adds a voice typing feature for renaming files in File Explorer, making the process more efficient. Additionally, minor visual improvements have been made to eliminate white flashes when opening new Explorer windows and resizing panes, enhancing the overall interface experience. These updates are being gradually rolled out to users who have opted into the preview toggle and will eventually be available to all users in the Beta Channel

The preview build of Windows Package Manager version 1.29.30 enhances the list output format for greater consistency, making it easier to parse and compare results. A change from an optional boolean flag to an IReference type aligns the API with modern Windows standards while simplifying development for third-party wrappers. Additionally, a localization patch has resolved issues with garbled language strings in non-English environments, leading to clearer prompts and error messages. Overall, these updates aim to improve the user experience by ensuring more predictable output and reducing confusion regarding command verbosity

Windows Terminal Preview 1.25.622.0 introduces a new search interface in the Settings, a fully featured editor for actions and key bindings, and support for Kitty's keyboard protocol, enhancing user experience and performance. The update improves session restoration reliability between elevated and non-elevated windows and implements clipboard hijacking protection that only allows clipboard writes when the window is focused. Additional features include a layout-only persistence setting, ambiguous width configuration for mixed character scripts, and new color schemes that mimic Visual Studio Code's appearance. Performance tweaks yield a 10-25% increase in output throughput, and various bug fixes have been implemented to enhance overall functionality

Windows Terminal 1.24.10621.0 introduces several enhancements, including a bilingual Command Palette search, a new Extensions settings page for easier management, and improved performance with a 10-25% boost. The update removes support for icons fetched from the web to prevent data leaks, requiring users to host images locally or use relative paths. The settings UI has been refined with lighter color pickers and various bug fixes addressing issues such as lingering palette entries and application launch failures. Users can manually update to the new version from the GitHub releases page, while those on Insider channels will receive the update automatically

Visual Studio Code version 1.110 has introduced AI-powered agents capable of browsing applications, executing terminal commands, and remembering long-term plans, enhancing productivity for developers. New features include Agent Debug panels for monitoring tool calls in real time and the /autoApprove command that speeds up processes but carries risks if used carelessly. The update also adds browser automation tools for direct interaction with web pages within the editor, alongside various accessibility improvements and customization options for agents. Overall, these enhancements transform VS Code into a comprehensive assistant capable of reasoning, browsing, editing, and debugging seamlessly within the integrated development environment

Microsoft has released an out-of-band update, KB5082314, for Windows Server 2022 to address certificate renewal issues specifically affecting AD FS servers using Hello for Business. The update includes all previous security patches and a critical fix for a known issue preventing the "Certificate for Windows Hello" dialog from refreshing post-installation of the February update, KB5075906. Administrators must enable the Known-Issue Rollback (KIR) setting through Microsoft Support to take advantage of the certificate fix, as it is disabled by default. Overall, installing KB5082314 is essential for those with the AD FS/Hello for Business configuration, while other users will still benefit from the latest security improvements

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26300.7939 introduces a new registry switch that locks batch files during execution to prevent modifications that can cause errors. Users can enable this feature by creating a DWORD value named LockBatchFilesWhenInUse in the registry and setting it to 1, which ensures the command processor locks batch files for the duration of their run. This addition addresses previous issues where "file in use" errors occurred due to scripts being edited while still executing, particularly after driver updates. Although this lock is beneficial for environments with potential interference from rogue installers, it may be unnecessary for controlled settings where batch files are used safely

Microsoft has released Windows 11 Build 28020.1673 to Windows Insiders in the Canary Channel, introducing several notable updates that enhance user experience. The build includes Emoji 16.0 with new icons, Quick Machine Recovery for unmanaged Windows Professional machines, and a built-in network speed test accessible from the taskbar. Additional improvements include better webcam controls, enhanced nearby sharing capabilities, and a more consistent dark mode in File Explorer, addressing common user frustrations. Overall, this update focuses on practical fixes and features that improve daily usability rather than just aesthetic enhancements