insider builds

Microsoft has quietly begun testing a native video‑wallpaper feature in Windows 11 Insider preview builds, a modern revival of Vista’s DreamScene that — according to multiple independent community reports — will let users set ordinary video files such as MP4 and MKV as looping desktop...

Microsoft appears to be quietly restoring a long‑requested personalization capability to Windows 11: native video wallpapers that let ordinary video files play as looping desktop backgrounds, a DreamScene‑style feature now visible in recent Insider preview builds and gated behind a hidden...

Microsoft has quietly begun building native support for video wallpapers into Windows 11 — a full-circle moment that revives a DreamScene-era idea while exposing difficult trade-offs around battery life, compatibility, and the long shadow of third‑party wallpaper engines. The capability...

Windows Weekly’s latest episode arrives like a two‑ton reminder that tech transitions rarely happen on a polite schedule: “Coding Makes Me Cry” (Episode 950) drills into the real-world fallout of Windows 10’s imminent end-of‑support, Microsoft’s evolving recovery and Copilot features, and the...

Microsoft is rolling AI into the smallest, most ubiquitous text editor on Windows — Notepad — by adding on‑device generative features for Copilot+ PCs, and the changes signal a meaningful shift in how Microsoft blends local and cloud AI across Windows inbox apps. Overview Notepad’s September...

Microsoft's new handheld-focused, full‑screen Xbox interface for Windows 11 can already be unlocked on many in‑market Windows handhelds thanks to a Release Preview of the Windows 11 25H2 update and a handful of community-discovered switches — meaning you don't have to wait for the ROG Xbox...

Microsoft’s recent nudge to users — asking “what do you miss most in Windows?” — is more than a PR moment; it’s a revealing sign that the company is wrestling with conflicting priorities for Windows 11: glossy AI capabilities and the long list of everyday quality‑of‑life features that power...

Microsoft’s new handheld-focused Xbox Mode — the full-screen, controller-first Xbox experience layered on Windows 11 — is already being run on a wide range of in-market Windows handhelds, and community ports plus an Insider-channel push mean owners of existing devices can try the experience now...

ExplorerPatcher’s latest pre-release restores the long-missed File Explorer title bar, patches several Start menu and taskbar regressions, and moves under-the-hood hooking to a new library — but it also ships with a short list of known quirks and a reminder that modifying core shell behavior...

Microsoft’s handheld gambit has quietly moved from concept to something you can try on your own device: a controller‑first, full‑screen “Xbox” experience built into Windows 11 is rolling out as part of the platform’s handheld work, and enthusiasts are already using the new handheld view and...

Microsoft’s handheld push has taken a new turn: the Xbox-style, full‑screen “Xbox Mode” that will ship as the default experience on the ROG Xbox Ally family is already appearing on other Windows 11 handhelds — in community builds and hacks — ahead of the Ally’s retail launch, forcing a rapid...

Microsoft Paint is quietly evolving from a tiny utility into a surprisingly capable image editor, and the latest Insider build shows Microsoft is leaning into features that make Paint behave more like a lightweight Photoshop — including a new editable project file, per-tool opacity controls...

Windows 11’s taskbar just gained a one‑click “Perform speed test” control — but instead of spinning up a native diagnostic engine, the button opens your default browser and lands on Bing’s internet speed test (the same Speedtest technology Ookla powers in Bing). Background Microsoft has been...

Windows 11’s dark mode finally has a practical, reproducible setup that makes the whole desktop — not just a handful of modern apps — feel cohesive, and the path to get there mixes built‑in settings, small automation tools, and a few targeted third‑party utilities that fill the remaining gaps...

Microsoft has quietly repurposed the Xbox button on gamepads when used with Windows 11 Insiders: a long press now opens Task View while a short press still launches the Game Bar, and a press-and-hold continues to power down the controller — a small but practical tweak rolling out to Dev and Beta...

Microsoft’s latest Windows 11 Insider preview builds quietly add a one‑click internet speed‑test shortcut to the taskbar network flyout — but the shortcut simply opens Bing’s web‑based speed test rather than running a native, offline measurement — and the same builds also include a subtle but...

Microsoft’s continued migration of legacy Control Panel features into the modern Settings app has taken another step forward: recent Windows 11 Insider preview builds contain hidden, in-progress pages that surface longstanding keyboard controls and a redesigned haptic touchpad panel inside...

Microsoft is quietly testing a small but notable convenience feature in Windows 11: a one‑click internet speed test shortcut embedded directly in the network flyout and taskbar context menu — a shortcut that, for now, simply launches Bing’s online speed‑test widget rather than running a native...

Microsoft's Settings app is quietly turning into a one-stop hub for RGB: the long-rumored Lighting/Dynamic Lighting controls have appeared in Insider builds, and Microsoft is positioning Windows 11 to manage RGB lighting across compatible keyboards, mice, chassis and other peripherals without...

Windows is adding a one‑click “Perform speed test” option to the network menu — but it does the job by opening your browser and pointing to Bing’s online speed test rather than running a native, offline diagnostic inside the OS. Background / Overview Microsoft has been steadily remaking Windows...