app management

Microsoft is quietly reshaping how Windows users discover, launch, and update applications by rolling out a Microsoft Store redesign that surfaces downloads and makes it easier to launch apps you already have on your PC—whether they were installed from the Store or from a developer’s site. Early...

For many longtime Windows users, the quickest and least frustrating way to get software is still downloading a vendor’s .exe and running it — a workflow that feels faster, more flexible, and more transparent than wrestling with the Microsoft Store’s UI or waiting for a stalled download...

Finding, launching, and managing Office applications has become an integral part of the modern Windows experience, especially as Microsoft continues to evolve its ecosystem. The seamless integration of Microsoft Office apps with Windows is crucial for productivity, whether users are working from...

Installing Windows 11, version 24H2 or Windows Server 2025 just got a significant boost in user experience, convenience, and—most importantly—security, thanks to a pivotal change in how inbox Microsoft Store apps are handled during fresh installations. Traditionally, even the latest ISO, VHD, or...

For many Windows 10 users, the persistent presence of certain built-in applications such as Phone Link—previously branded as Your Phone—has sparked persistent curiosity and sometimes frustration. Windows has evolved to include an ecosystem of services designed to integrate devices and platforms...

Windows 11 is on the brink of a substantial change with the upcoming 25H2 feature update, marking a fresh approach to how Microsoft’s operating system manages its built-in applications. The default suite of Windows apps has sparked debate among users and administrators since Windows 10...

Microsoft's upcoming Windows 11 25H2 update introduces a significant enhancement: a native option to uninstall default Microsoft Store apps via Group Policy. This development addresses longstanding user concerns about pre-installed applications often labeled as "bloatware." Historically...

Microsoft Teams is set to enhance its administrative capabilities with the introduction of rule-based controls for managing Microsoft 365-certified applications. This feature, identified as Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 485712, aims to bolster organizational security by providing administrators with...

Microsoft Teams is set to introduce a significant update that will empower administrators with enhanced control over third-party app availability through new rule-based settings in the Teams admin center. This feature, detailed in Microsoft's Message Center update MC1085133, is scheduled to...

Microsoft has unveiled a significant overhaul to the Windows 11 Start menu, introducing features aimed at enhancing user experience and productivity. This update, currently available to Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel, brings a more customizable and efficient interface to the forefront...

Microsoft's Family Safety feature is designed to help parents manage their children's digital experiences by setting boundaries on app usage, screen time, and web content. A notable aspect of this feature is its approach to web browsing: when web and search filters are enabled, Family Safety...

Windows 11 users are once again witnessing a major transformation at the heart of their desktop experience: the Start Menu. Microsoft’s relentless drive to balance simplicity, power, customization, and visual appeal has birthed an overhauled Start Menu set to debut officially in an upcoming...

The Windows Start menu has remained at the heart of the user experience since its debut in Windows 95, but its evolution has not always been universally celebrated. When Windows 11 arrived, many long-time fans bemoaned changes that seemed to favor form over function: cramped app layouts...

Windows 11 users are set to experience a dynamic shift in desktop navigation, as Microsoft has unveiled a major update to the operating system’s Start menu. In its most recent Dev Channel build, the Start menu receives a distinctly enhanced interface, now featuring a scrollable layout and...

Microsoft has recently rolled out a series of significant updates to the Microsoft Store, aiming to enhance user experience through personalization, improved search functionality, and deeper integration with Windows. These enhancements are designed to make app discovery more intuitive and...

For European Windows users, enduring the presence of unremovable apps and relentless pop-ups has been a defining feature of the operating system for years. But that landscape is rapidly changing as Microsoft, prodded by regulatory mandates from the European Economic Area’s Digital Markets Act...

For decades, Microsoft’s Windows operating system has greeted users with a familiar preloaded landscape of apps: Edge for web browsing, Bing for internet searches, the Microsoft Store for downloading software, and a smattering of baked-in experiences like widgets and curated news feeds. For...

A significant new layer of control is poised to make its debut in the Microsoft Teams Admin Center: rules-based app control for Teams, an update that shifts how organizations manage third-party applications within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. This feature, set to start rolling out in mid-July...

Microsoft is set to introduce a significant update to the Teams Admin Center, focusing on the management of third-party applications. This new feature, known as "Rules-Based Enablement of Third-Party Teams Apps," empowers Microsoft 365 (M365) administrators to establish specific criteria for...

Windows Update stands as one of the most critical underpinnings of Microsoft’s desktop ecosystem, persistently delivering crucial security patches, feature upgrades, and stability fixes for over two decades. Yet, one of its most persistent pain points remained glaring: the fragmentation of app...