Computerworld.com [Hacking News]

An industry generative artificial intelligence (genAI) alliance, the AI Infrastructure Partnership (AIP), on Wednesday announced that xAI, Nvidia, GE Vernova, and NextEra Energy were joining BlackRock, Microsoft, and Global Infrastructure Partners as members. But given that the announcement specified no financial commitments or any other details, analysts doubted it would make much of a difference.

Still, even though the massive global momentum behind genAI is unlikely to be changed by the announcement, the addition of the two energy companies to the group was an implicit acknowledgement that the ever-increasing power requirements of genAI data centers need serious attention.

Scott Bickley, advisory fellow at Info-Tech Research Group, said that the massive resources behind this initiative, including Blackrock, which reported in January that it held assets worth $11.6 trillion, making it the world’s largest money manager, can make the difference.

Sales of virtual reality (VR) headsets fell by 12% in 2024 compared to the previous year, according to a new report from analyst firm Counterpoint. The decline markers the third year in a row sales have fallen — and it is mainly on the consumer side that demand is low.

The best performer is Meta, which has a 77% market share, followed by Sony, Pico, DPVR, and Apple.

When it comes to Apple, interest in the pricey Vision Pro has increased among business users. But the headset, which went on sale just over a year ago, is still only available in 13 countries and territories.

Counterpoint expects demand for VR headsets to remain low this year, though interest in smart glasses with augmented reality (AR) capabilities is expected to increase significantly.

With its latest Digital Markets Act (DMA) action against Apple, the European Commission (EC) proves it is bad for competition, bad for consumers, and bad for business. It also threatens Europeans with a hitherto unseen degree of data insecurity and weaponized exploitation. The information Apple is being forced to make available to competitors with cynical interest in data exfiltration will threaten regional democracy, opening doors to new Cambridge Analytica scandals.

This may sound histrionic. And certainly, if you read the EC’s statement detailing its guidance to “facilitate development of innovative products on Apple’s platforms” you’d almost believe it was a positive thing. Gee, you might think, now those no-mark, cheap not-so-smart watches will offer some of the features Apple invented. But the positive spin of a press release puts a gloss over a tide of darkness.

What Europe wants

• Device manufacturers and app developers will be provided with improved access to iPhone features that interact with connected devices (e.g. displaying notifications on smartwatches), faster data transfers (e.g. peer-to-peer Wi-Fi connections, and near-field communication) and easier device set-up (e.g. pairing). 
• To force this interoperability, developers will gain “improved access to technical documentation on features not yet available to third parties, timely communication and updates, and a more predictable timeline for the review of interoperability requests.”

The words, “not yet available” do a lot of heavy lifting in the above. They basically require that, when developing new features, Apple must also develop those features to be compatible with competitive system for no cost. That’s going to raise the cost of development and slow the introduction of new features in the EU.

The specification decisions are legally binding. Apple is required to implement them in accordance with the conditions set out in the decisions, European regulators explained, adding that Apple still has the right to independent judicial scrutiny.

I don’t know whether Apple will exercise that right, but it should. Seriously, if commissioners really believe this will be good for tech, innovation, or competition across the region, their hallucination shows the extent to which our political classes are utterly disconnected from the reality most of us endure. It is also noteworthy that Apple is the only tech firm these demands are being made of.

Europe gives your privacy away

I’m not just talking about the notion that Apple must permit sideloading on iPhones and offer support for app services outside of the App Store. I’ve almost accepted there’s merits to that. There might even be solutions to the dangers it also provides. But in this case, I’m looking at a reprehensible set of additional demands being levied against the company in the region.

One of the worst of these is that notifications, until now end-to-end encrypted on your devices, will be shared with manufacturers of “connected devices” in unencrypted form. Ostensibly, that is so manufacturers can work with those notifications and weave them into their own product experiences. But in practice, it means your notifications can be exfiltrated from your device and transported to servers beyond your control.

Once that information is out there, it is no longer protected and will give those with access to it (likely including data-mining firms) even closer insight into what you do, where you go, and who you are.

It’s a measure that absolutely conflicts with GDPR rules, which is why companies with an at-best questionable record on respecting customer privacy such as Meta have been requesting such access. Apple also claims some companies are making interoperability requests that abuse the DMA system.

A threat to security?

You won’t need to dig deep to see how this kind of data was abused before. Now it will be again, this time using more powerful generative AI (genAI) technology to generate insights, results, plans, personalized posts and highly targeted ads.

Don’t even get me started on how the exfiltration of data could also be used by foreign intelligence services. I’m sure the Commission spent time considering that before it decided to carve a massive hole at the heart of privacy and security on the world’s most trusted and secure mobile platform.

Why wouldn’t the kind of information gathered by data brokers using these “connected devices” be of use to, say, a hostile intelligence service attempting to track troop or munitions movements? 

Apple can protect us against this kind of threat, you say? Not under the DMA. Because when it comes to security patches for services/on-device features used by competitors, Apple will need to not only test its patches on its own devices, but on theirs (at its own expense).

In some cases, such as when attempting to put a stop to hostile data extraction, third-party developers may complain, Apple will have to investigate, and the complaint may end up on the desk of some European mandarin for final adjudication. As a result, sometimes essential software updates might take days, weeks, or even months to gain approval, leaving customers exposed to abuse in the meantime.

Is that what you call security? 

That’s not Apple’s fault, either, it’s how this part of the DMA implementation has been designed.

What Apple said

Apple isn’t at all happy. In a statement, it said: “Today’s decisions wrap us in red tape, slowing down Apple’s ability to innovate for users in Europe and forcing us to give away our new features for free to companies who don’t have to play by the same rules. It’s bad for our products and for our European users. We will continue to work with the European Commission to help them understand our concerns on behalf of our users.” 

There are several other iniquitous measures contained in Europe’s flawed judgement. For example, Apple will be forced to hand over access to innovations to competitors for free from day one, slowing innovation. This is going to make product introductions in Europe much slower. The implementation also gives unqualified European officials the power to micromanage what Apple does and what software it gets to release.

It’s a field day for Apple’s biggest competitors.  It is noteworthy that Apple is the only company to have such demands made of it under so called ‘Specification Tools’ provided to European regulators under the DMA.

What makes this weird is that even though other companies are also subject to the DMA’s interoperability requirements, it is only Apple that is being forced to share its innovations. It means Apple must give away its intellectual property to competitors for free — even though those competitors are not obliged to follow the same rules. That seems to be an incredibly one-sided application of process that ignores the 250,000+ APIs Apple already offers developers so they can build products on its platforms.

Who pays for all of this? 

You — users worldwide — will pay for Europe’s folly. You see, while Apple will now be forced to pay staffers to test software changes across all its own devices and across third-party and competing services and products in Europe, it will not be able to pass on that charge to those competitors.

To get some scale to this, Apple already has 500 engineers in Europe working on DMA compliance.  The new DMA findings mean it will need to hire even more, and if the competitors aren’t paying for those people, and Europe is not paying for those people, then it will be you paying for those people. 

This likely means more expensive Apple products, as Apple users globally are forced to pay to support rules that actually make their digital lives less secure, while also opening up access to their personal information to some of the worst companies in the world.

What about business?

This affects enterprise users as well. Sure, some companies (particularly one household name) will make billions exploiting this personal information. But others will immediately find themselves struggling with a newly inflated threat environment that means they’ll have to, among other things, limit what employees do with the devices they use and put policies and protections in place against casual data exfiltration.

Endpoint security, already a challenging space, will become even more difficult to guarantee, as that harmless seeming smart home device with seemingly benign access to your notifications turns out to be sending your notifications and location data to rogue nation states. 

How does that protect your business? It doesn’t. How does that help your business grow? It won’t. 

Better use Lockdown Mode — until Europe bans it.

State-sponsored failure

I’ve always been pro-Europe. The freedom to move between member states and the opportunity to settle in them was an important benefit for most of my life, until it was thrown away with Brexit. But this new set of European rules absolutely illustrates the dumb decision-making that drove so many in my country to vote to leave the bloc. It’s yet another chink in the battle-weary armor of privacy and security. It’s yet another in what seems an unyielding series of state-mandated enshitifications that erode platform security, damage personal privacy, and threaten business and commerce globally, not just in Europe.

The effect of this mass data exfiltration is a threat to democracy. The only beneficiaries will be dodgy AI firms trying to monetize your data for their advantage. None of this is good. All of it is wrong. And globally, we are all poorer for it. 

You can follow me on social media! Join me on BlueSky,  LinkedIn, and Mastodon.

When you receive an email with an invoice, wouldn’t it be nice if it automatically saved the file to your finance folder, logged the amount in your tracking spreadsheet, and notified your manager? That’s exactly what Microsoft Power Automate can do, along with a host of other automated actions.

Like its competitors IFTTT and Zapier, Power Automate allows business professionals of all stripes to create automated workflows involving a series of tasks across certain applications or services — even those from different vendors — that send notifications, ask for and offer approvals, and handle rote tasks automatically, with no coding required. The automation tool is part of what Microsoft calls its Power Platform, a suite of AI-enabled and AI-enhanced process automation tools.

Power Automate taps into enterprise apps and services via components called “connectors.” Microsoft offers more than 1,000 prebuilt, certified connectors, and you can build custom connectors to other apps.

While anyone with a Microsoft account can use Power Automate for free on a limited basis, business users will need a paid subscription to access key connectors and tools. Power Automate is included with most Microsoft 365 enterprise plans, so you may well already have access to it; if not, separate Power Automate plans start at $15 per user per month.

Here’s what you need to know to get up and running with Power Automate.

In this article:

• Understanding the basics
• Getting started
• Your first automation: Email filing
• Adding AI power: Copilot and AI Builder
• Making your flows reliable
• The last word

Understanding the basics

Often with a service like Power Automate, you get a bit of the writer’s “staring at a blank page” syndrome, where you don’t even know where to begin. What’s even possible? Fortunately, Microsoft offers templates that show a bunch of a different possibilities: surf over to its templates gallery to get a sense of what you can do, from saving email attachments in a SharePoint library to recording form responses from a Google Sheet (yes, really!).

But the templates are just a starting point. You’ll want to write something customized for your own workflows, I’m sure. Before we dive into building automations (or “flows” as they’re called in Power Automate), let’s get comfortable with what we’re working with.

Think of Power Automate as your personal digital assistant that can work across your applications. There are three main types of automation you can create:

• Cloud flows are like having an assistant in the cloud, constantly watching for things to happen in your online apps like Outlook, SharePoint, or Teams. There are actually three types of these cloud flows: automated, instant, and scheduled, which do about what you think they’d do.
• Desktop flows are like having someone sit at your computer, clicking and typing for you in desktop applications like Excel or specialized business software.
• Business process flows are more like having a guide that walks you through complex procedures step by step, ensuring nothing gets missed.

Each type serves a different purpose, and you’ll likely use a combination of them as you become more comfortable with automation.

Getting started

Let me walk you through setting up Power Automate for the first time. The process is straightforward, but there are a few important details to pay attention to.

First, open your web browser and go to microsoft365.com. If you’re not already signed in, use your work email and password. You’ll know you’re in the right place when you see the Microsoft 365 app launcher (a square icon with nine dots) in the top left corner.

Click the app launcher; this opens a panel showing all your available Microsoft 365 apps. Don’t worry if you don’t see Power Automate right away — scroll down and look for it. The icon looks like a multicolored right arrow. If you don’t see it, use the search bar at the top of the app launcher pane.

Click on Power Automate to open it. The first time you open it, you might see a brief tutorial. Feel free to go through it or click Skip if you prefer to dive right in. When the whole app opens, you’ll see a welcome screen with templates and suggestions.

Power Automate’s Home screen is brimming with suggested flows and tutorials.

Jonathan Hassell / Foundry

Take a moment to look at the left navigation bar: this is where you’ll find your flows, templates, and connections later.

Your first automation: Email filing

You probably noticed in the previous screenshot that Copilot, Microsoft’s generative AI tool, is now integrated with Power Automate. That means you can describe an automation you’d like to create in natural language, and Power Automate will generate a flow based on your prompt. But Copilot isn’t available to all Power Automate users, and it’s helpful for everyone to know how to build a flow from scratch; that’ll make it easier to adjust and improve any AI-generated flows.

So, let’s start with something everyone needs: automatically organizing emails. Let’s assume you’re in charge of receiving applications for something at work — maybe it is an internship, or perhaps you’re running a scholarship program and you are managing the entries. I’ll show you how to create a flow that stores files attached to emails in SharePoint and tracks them in a neat, centralized list. This is a perfect first flow because it’s both useful and teaches several important concepts.

From the Power Automate home page, look for the button in the left navigation bar labeled Create and click it. (You can alternatively click My flows first, then look for the New flow button up top.)

You’ll see several options. For this flow, we want the whole automation to run without us having to start it, so select Automated cloud flow.

Choose Automated cloud flow on the left for your first flow.

Jonathan Hassell / Foundry

This opens the flow creation wizard. Name your flow Scholarship Applications.

Next, you choose a trigger, which is the event that will start your flow. In the trigger search box, type Outlook new email and select When a new email arrives. You will be able to add conditions to make it more specific later.

Name the new flow and choose a trigger.

Jonathan Hassell / Foundry

Click Create to continue. The trigger appears in the middle of a blank canvas in Power Automate.

Next, we add steps. The flow executes one step at a time, and each step is an action that the flow will perform once triggered. But first we need to configure the start of our sequence and add a couple of parameters so we can nail down which types of emails we’re looking for and what about them we want Power Automate to do.

Click the When a new email arrives trigger and look at the parameters tab. You’ll want to add four important advanced parameters, which you’ll be able to see in the window by clicking Show all.

Adding advanced parameters to the new email trigger.

Jonathan Hassell / Foundry

You want to add the following:

• Include Attachments: set to Yes
• Subject Filter: type in Scholarship application
• Folder: set to Inbox (click the folder icon and select Inbox from the pop-up menu)

Then just click back over on the canvas area to save those changes.

Let’s keep adding actions. Click the + sign below your “When a new email arrives” trigger, and the “Add an action” pane appears.

Let’s add our new action by searching for Create item. It will have the SharePoint logo attached to it to let you know it’s related to SharePoint Online. Click on Create item to add it to your canvas.

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Adding an action after the trigger will tell the flow what to do next.

Jonathan Hassell / Foundry

Now you can configure the action a little more granularly. You need to give the SharePoint Create item action a couple of parameters, because otherwise it won’t know what SharePoint site you want to use for this flow, nor will it know which list to use and augment as new emails and attachments arrive.

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Configuring the SharePoint action item.

Jonathan Hassell / Foundry

Go ahead and select the SharePoint site you want to use, and then select the list you want for this flow. You might need to go over to your SharePoint site first and create a new list for use with this flow; once you do, it should appear in a drop-down list automatically when you click the List Name field. (It may take a few minutes to show up.) You’ll also want to add a text column in your SharePoint list called “Message Content” — this is where the automation will store the body of the email message for you.

You’ll also want to add a couple of advanced parameters to your Create item action:

• Click Show all to show the choices.
• Under Limit Columns by View, select All Items.
• Under Title, type / (slash) and select Insert dynamic content from the pop-up menu. On the pane that appears to the right, select From under “When a new email arrives.”
• Under Message Content, type / and select Insert dynamic content, then select either Body or Body Preview under the Outlook “When a new email arrives” list in the pane on the right. (Body Preview might not be immediately visible. To find it, type body in the search box up top and it will appear among the options.)
• Under “Content type Id,” select Item.

Setting up advanced parameters of the SharePoint action item.

Jonathan Hassell / Foundry

Click the canvas to close the parameters screen and save your changes.

Next, we need to add a condition. A condition affects the behavior of an action when another factor is true or false. In this case, we want the condition to say that the next two actions have output from the previous action applied to them — specifically, we want the attachment from the new email received to be applied to each of our next two subsequent actions.

Click the + sign under the Create item action. On the “Add an action” screen, search for apply to each and then click the Apply to each option that comes up under Control.

Adding an “Apply to each” control.

Jonathan Hassell / Foundry

In the “Select an output from previous steps” field, type / and select Insert dynamic content, then select Attachments to the right. This tells Power Automate to use the attachment for each of the next actions it’s going to take.

Attaching the attachment to the next actions.

Jonathan Hassell / Foundry

Click on the canvas to save the “Apply to each” control. At this point, your flow should look like the figure below.

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Our flow now has a trigger, an action, and a condition.

Jonathan Hassell / Foundry

Next, click the + sign below the “Apply to each” action and add another action. (This ought to be a pretty familiar routine for you at this point.)

Here, we need to get the attachment — but we need to use the Outlook “Get Attachment” and NOT the SharePoint “Get attachments.” This is a key distinction. So when you search for get attachment, make sure to pick the one in the Outlook subsection.

Then, in the parameters section, hit / and choose Insert dynamic content in each field, and add Message Id to the Message Id field and Attachments Attachment ID to the “Attachement [sic] Id” field. Both of these items are under the Outlook “When a new email arrives” list in the pane that appears on the right, but they might not be immediately visible. To find them, type the first few letters of each in the search box up top and choose the item from the list that appears.

Filling out the parameters for the Get Attachment action.

Jonathan Hassell / Foundry

Click back on the canvas when you’re done to save your changes.

Now, for the final action, click the plus sign below the Get Attachment item, search for add attachment, and choose Add attachment from the SharePoint list. Here, you need to add parameters again, which you should be getting used to as well. You’ll want to add:

• Site Address: pick your SharePoint site.
• List Name: pick the SharePoint list.
• Id: hit the / key, choose dynamic content, and select ID from the SharePoint list.
• File Name: hit the / key, choose dynamic content, and then choose Attachments Name from the Outlook list.
• File Content: hit the / key, choose dynamic content, and then choose either Content Bytes or Attachments Content from the Outlook list.

Filling in the parameters for the “Add attachment” action.

Jonathan Hassell / Foundry

Finally, click Save in the top right of the overall Power Automate window to keep the flow saved in your account. The final flow should look like this:

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Our first flow is complete!

Jonathan Hassell / Foundry

Your flow is now ready to test. Use the Test button to try it out. You’ll be asked how you want to test — select Manual, and then send yourself an email with an attachment and put “scholarship application” in the subject line. The flow will report back to you onscreen and show you how long it took to process and what happened at each step.

Note: you may receive errors about a duplicate filename. This relates to the fact we’re not trying to rename individual attachment names when we save them into SharePoint, so if you get a bunch of PDFs from different individuals all called “application” or something similar, Power Automate is telling you the names are duplicated and it isn’t renaming them. This is fine for our purposes, since we are saving the attachments to individual list items, so we’ll always know who they’re from regardless of the filename.

Other errors may result from how your specific Microsoft 365 tenant is configured, but you can often find a workaround. For example, using the Body item in the Message Content field in this flow works fine in my tenant, but when my editor tested it in her tenant, the flow failed, flagging ‘item/MessageContent’ as the source of the error. When she substituted Body Preview in that field, the flow ran flawlessly. So if you hit an error when you start building your own flows, it’s worth looking for a similar item you can substitute.

You’ll know the flow is working when you get green arrows at each step. You can also head over to your SharePoint list, and you should see your message added to the list. The email address of the sender will be in the first column, the message body in the second, and then when you click the individual item, you’ll see the attachments listed there — just click on them to open them up.

Viewing the final result of the automation in SharePoint.

Jonathan Hassell / Foundry

Voila! You’ve just made your first flow and organized a bunch of stuff out of your inbox into a single place where you can share the load with co-workers.

Adding AI power: Copilot and AI Builder

Now let’s make things really interesting by adding artificial intelligence to your flows. This is where automation becomes truly powerful, handling tasks that traditionally required human review.

In this example, let’s ask Copilot to create a flow that automatically processes invoices using AI Builder, a Power Platform feature that creates AI models that automate your business processes. What’s cool about this example is that you’re going to build it simply by describing what you want in natural language, and as part of the resulting flow, Power Automate will integrate AI Builder actions, which use generative AI to review and extract information from existing data and then do something with it.

Note: You’ll need an AI Builder credit allocation or a premium Power Automate license to work with this section.

Create a new flow in Power Automate, and then click Describe it to design it. You’ll get the following screen as a result:

Type in natural language to have Copilot generate a workflow based on your prompt.

Jonathan Hassell / Foundry

Now, in the large box in the center of the screen, just describe the flow you want to create. I’ll give you some language here, which you can either cut and paste yourself into the wizard, or you can change any part of it you like simply by customizing the prompt.

Example: When a new invoice file is created in SharePoint, I want to use AI Builder to extract information from the invoices. Specifically, I want to extract the invoice number (highly recommended), date, total amount, vendor information, and line items (if needed). Once that information has been extracted, I want the information to be added to a list in SharePoint, with the AI-extracted fields mapped to list columns, and also including the processing date and status. I also want to send an email to accounting to notify them of the presence of the invoice, and that email should include extracted data in the email body, have the original invoice file attached, and should also have links to the SharePoint entry. I also want some error handling to check if AI extraction succeeded, and if it didn’t, I want an email to notify me of the failure and also to create a task for manual review.

Once you’ve got the prompt set, click the arrow at the bottom right of the prompt window to enter it. Depending on how you customized your prompt, you’ll get something like the following flowchart, reflecting Power Automate’s interpretation of your prompt:

You can take an AI-generated flow and then expand and fine-tune it.

Jonathan Hassell / Foundry

That’s it! You can click Next below the suggested flow and then click each action as we did before to configure the specific SharePoint libraries, lists, and files involved as well as the email contents and bodies.

Making your flows reliable

Reliability is the cornerstone of successful automation. While creating flows is exciting, ensuring that they continue to work flawlessly is what separates effective automation from frustrating setbacks. Let me walk you through how to build robust, dependable flows that you can trust.

First, think about error handling as you build your flow. After each major action, take a moment to consider what might go wrong. Maybe an email won’t send, a file won’t upload, or data won’t process correctly. These potential failure points need safeguards.

This is where Run after settings become your best friend. You can create an action that responds to what happens during a previous step in the sequence: when the step is successful, when it fails, when it’s skipped, when it times out, or some combination of the above. Think of this as your flow’s safety net.

For example, you could set up an action that sends you an email notification if a previous action fails, is skipped, or times out. Click the + sign after an action to add a new step. Search for and select Send me an email notification. Type in a subject line for the notification (which could include the Subject line from the original email, via the / key, dynamic content pane) and some body text indicating that the flow did not complete successfully.

Next, right-click the new action in the flow and select Run after from the pop-up menu. The action’s pane opens to the Settings tab. Scroll down to the “Run after” section. You’ll see the name of the action immediately above it in the flow. Click that action to expand it, then check Has timed out, Is skipped, and Has failed. Uncheck Is successful.

If you like, you can add other previous actions to this list by clicking Select actions and selecting the actions you want, then expanding and checking/unchecking the status options under each action. In this way, you can set up a single “Run after” step for all the previous actions in a flow, or you can create different “Run after” steps for different actions in the flow.

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Setting up ‘Run after’ actions and options.

Jonathan Hassell / Foundry

By setting up “Run after” responses, you’ll be prepared when something does go wrong. Set up notification actions to alert you immediately if a step fails. Create incident tickets so your team can track issues. Keep a log of errors in a spreadsheet for pattern analysis. And don’t forget about retry logic — sometimes a second attempt is all that’s needed to succeed.

Parallel branches are another powerful tool for reliability. By clicking the + symbol between steps and choosing Add parallel branch, you can create simultaneous operations. This is perfect for running independent processes, maintaining backup procedures, or sending out secondary notifications. Think of it as having multiple backup plans running simultaneously.

Finally, let’s talk about monitoring — your early warning system for potential issues. Create a daily monitoring flow that runs automatically. Have it check your flow history and look for any failures. Set it up to send you a daily digest summarizing what’s working and what needs attention. Include success rates so you can spot trends before they become problems.

Your monitoring system should also include smart alerts. Set up notifications for critical failures that need immediate attention. Configure warnings when performance starts to slip. Track usage statistics to ensure you’re making the most of your automation resources.

Remember, reliability isn’t about preventing every possible problem — it’s about having systems in place to catch issues early and resolve them quickly. With these practices in place, you can build flows that don’t just work today but continue working reliably long into the future.

The last word

Microsoft Power Automate provides a service like Zapier and IFTTT that is well integrated with both Microsoft 365 and many other popular cloud services used by individuals and businesses alike. While I’m not exhaustively comparing Power Automate to IFTTT and Zapier, Microsoft shops and especially organizations already in bed with Microsoft 365 may find integrating flows into their daily work easier and more user-friendly.

Whatever the situation, using flows can mean the difference between forgetting subtle but critical details in business workflows and having all of your bases covered.

This article was originally published in October 2019 and updated in March 2025.

Windows comes loaded with a lot of applications, but to be honest, they aren’t all the best. There are better tools out there, and you don’t have to spend any money to get them. 

These are must-have applications I always find myself installing on any new PC –— they’re all free, open source, and will instantly upgrade any Windows experience. Even better, they can boost your productivity at work or just streamline the way you use your PC at home.

Each of these is also lightweight and bloatware-free: No annoying features that get in your way, no ads bothering you, and no heavy application grinding away slowly while you wait for it to open — just a collection of useful, community-created tools that respect you and do their jobs well. Now, this is what PC computing was meant to be.

Want more useful Windows apps and PC-related tips? Sign up for my free Windows Intelligence newsletter. Plus, I’ll send you free Windows Field Guide downloads as a bonus when you sign up!

1. Everything

Everything is the best file-search tool on Windows, hands down. Unlike the built-in file search feature in the Start menu or File Explorer, Everything finds, well, everything, in an instant. And while those search results are just for file names, it’s still an incredibly fast and lightweight way to find anything on your PC. I find it absolutely indispensable.

Everything is the best Windows file search tool — bar none.

Chris Hoffman/IDG

2. PowerToys (especially PowerToys Run)

Microsoft PowerToys is an incredible collection of tools I recommend to everyone. There are so many useful PowerToys in this package, and many of them feel like upgrades to built-in Windows experiences — like the “Advanced Paste” tool that lets you convert text you copy from Microsoft Word to Markdown formatting as you paste it to FancyZones (which is basically the Windows “Snap” feature on steroids).

But the best upgrade in the package just might be PowerToys Run. It’s an alternate launcher for Windows — you could use it instead of the Start menu, pressing a key combination (like Windows+Space) to open it.

And, unlike the Start menu, PowerToys Run actually respects your choice of default web browser and search engine, rather than forcing you to use Bing and Edge. That’s reason enough to use it, though it can also do so many other things — such as finding notes in your OneNote notebooks, switching to windows by their name, searching your browser history, and more.

PowerToys Run is the launcher Windows should include.

Chris Hoffman/IDG

3. Open-Shell (but Start11 is more polished)

Don’t like the standard Windows Start menu? Open-Shell is a completely free, open-source replacement that will work well on both Windows 10 and Windows 11.

That said, Open-Shell isn’t the most feature-filled application. Start11 is definitely the best Start menu replacement — if you’re willing to spend $10 to $15. (It’s the one application I’m mentioning here that isn’t open source, but it’s inexpensive and very polished.)

Whichever option you choose, you can customize and personalize your Start menu — and you won’t see ads or forced changes as Microsoft keeps updating Windows and tweaking the menu. It’s a great way to make Windows 11 behave more like Windows 10, too.

4. EarTrumpet

Do you find yourself adjusting the volume of individual apps? I do — especially when participating in online meetings. Windows has this functionality, but it takes a few clicks and some scrolling to find. 

EarTrumpet makes it much easier. After installing it, you’ll get a convenient system tray icon where you can access application volume sliders in just a single click. Simple.

EarTrumpet lets you control application volumes in a snap.

Chris Hoffman/IDG

5. ShareX (or Greenshot for quick screenshots)

The Windows Snipping Tool is getting pretty good, especially on Windows 11, where it also has built-in screen recording features. But ShareX is still more powerful — and it also brings easy screen recording to Windows 10.

ShareX is packed with useful features. It can take a scrolling screenshot of a document, or record a video and save it as an animated GIF. It lets you annotate images — and you can even configure it to automatically upload the images you capture to a server when you’re done. It’s a serious power-user tool for capturing screenshots.

Greenshot, another classic screenshot tool, is still a great pick for quick screenshots. However, it’s no longer actively updated like ShareX.

6. Sumatra PDF

Sumatra PDF is an incredibly lightweight app for viewing PDF files. It launches with lightning fast speed, and it’s a nice minimal tool. It doesn’t include the serious security features Adobe uses to “sandbox” PDF code, but it doesn’t need to. Instead, Sumatra PDF stays secure by refusing to support scripting and other advanced document features that make PDFs more like web pages than traditional documents.

In other words: If you want to complete an interactive government form with built-in code, you’ll want another PDF reader. But if you just want to read a PDF document the old-fashioned way? Sumatra PDF is perfect — and fast.

Sumatra PDF helps you avoid those PDFs getting lost in a pile of browsers, too. It can even read eBook files!

For simple and minimal document viewing, Sumatra PDF is the best.

Chris Hoffman/IDG

7. NanaZip (or 7-Zip)

7-Zip is a classic free file archiver tool — a nag-free alternative to WinRAR and WinZip. It can open nearly anything you can throw at it, including RAR files, 7Z files, and TAR files. But 7-Zip is getting a little long in the tooth, and it shows — the interface just feels outdated.

That’s one reason why I prefer NanaZip, which is based on the same underlying 7-Zip code, but offers a more modern interface that feels at home on the latest version of Windows. More importantly, NanaZip automatically updates itself, unlike 7-Zip, ensuring you’ll always have the latest security patches installed without micromanagement.

8. Notepad++

The classic Notepad application is much too basic. On Windows 11, it’s more powerful with features such as tabs — but it also asks you to sign in with your Microsoft account. It’s weird.

Notepad++ is a major upgrade. This lightweight text editor has tabs — even on Windows 10 — and it sports syntax highlighting for programming and scripting. It’s useful even if you just need to tweak HTML regularly, like I do, and the Find and Replace feature works well. Plain and simple, it’s packed with useful features that will come in handy for when you need to work with plain-text files.

Notepad++ is the best plain-text editor for Windows PCs.

Chris Hoffman/IDG

9. Paint.NET

Microsoft is making Paint more powerful, but if I am being honest, it is starting to feel like an AI image generation playground. Paint.NET, on the other hand, is an incredible tool and a secret weapon I’ve used my entire career: a completely free, easy, and lightweight way to quickly edit images and screenshots.

Paint.NET is packed with features that Paint doesn’t have, and it feels more like a tool for getting image work done. 

10. VLC media player (and MusicBee)

Microsoft’s bundled Media Player app is fine, but VLC media player is even better. It can play nearly any type of video or audio file you throw at it — no configuration necessary. It’s also jam-packed with useful features, but you don’t have to use them. Out of the box, it’s just a simple, practical media player.

And if you still have a local music library? MusicBee is the best library-style player for managing that MP3 collection.

More classic Windows-tweaking apps

There is no need to settle for a PC that doesn’t work exactly how you want it — sometimes, all you need to take your PC to the next level is knowing where to look for the right apps. For more ways to improve your Windows experience, check out this guide on the easiest way to install apps on a new Windows PC.

Want even more Windows productivity and tweaking tips? Sign up for my free Windows Intelligence newsletter. I’ll send you three new things to try each Friday. Plus, you’ll get free copies of Paul Thurrott’s Windows Field Guides as a special welcome gift.

New PCs introduced Tuesday by Dell sport high-powered Nvidia GPUs designed to help workers test AI models before deployment.

The new AI PC lineup includes laptops and desktops with Nvidia’s latest Blackwell Ultra and Blackwell GPUs, which provide the muscle needed to test compute-intensive AI models. AI PCs are designed to run generative AI tools and models more efficiently than standard PCs.

“These AI developer PCs will make it much easier for developers to prototype, to test and even scale their models into production environments,” said Kevin Terwilliger, vice president and general manager for consumer, commercial and gaming PCs at Dell.

The announcement coincides with Nvidia’s rollout of its latest GPU Blackwell Ultra at the GTC conference in San Jose. The GPU is the successor to the red-hot Blackwell GPU, which racked up $11 billion in sales in the most recent quarter.

The Pro Max series of workstations bring hardware previously used in data centers to desktops. “These systems will redefine AI developer experiences by really bridging the gap between desk side experimentation and enterprise scale AI deployment,” Terwilliger said.

The new Pro Max with GB300 packs the tightly coupled Blackwell Ultra GPU and Grace CPU, both made by Nvidia. It includes 784GB of unified system memory — 288GB HBM3e memory and 496GB of LPDDR5X memory.

Developers can test and prototype AI models with up to 460 billion parameters on the Pro Max with GB300. The system delivers 20 petaflops of performance with the FP4 data type, which is a low-precision measure for inferencing.

The Pro Max with GB10 includes Nvidia’s Blackwell GPU — a generation behind the Blackwell Ultra — and the Grace CPU. Developers will be able to work with AI models with up to 200 billion parameters on a  PC that delivers 1 petaflop of FP4 performance.

The systems are slated to be available later this year, include Nvidia’s DGX Base OS or Ubuntu Linux, and will be preconfigured with Nvidia’s AI software.

Desktop prototyping makes it easy to determine the size and performance of AI models, according to Terwilliger. “Once you right size it for the data set, then it’s appropriate to then scale it into the data center,” he said.

Some Dell customers need a secure test environment where they can tune some of their own data, said Matt Toolan, a Dell spokesman. For example, customers have tested different digital assistants to determine whether chat capabilities and responses were meaningful and on target, Toolan said.

Anshel Sag, principal analyst at Moor Insights and Strategy, was skeptical about Dell’s claim of using Pro Max PCs to scale AI models to data centers.

Instead, the AI tools more about making the deployments of on-device AI smoother, Sag said. “I don’t really think PC workloads are really useful for data-center scale deployments. I do believe Dell is uniquely positioned to enable hybrid AI that are entirely on-premise,” Sag said.

Dell also announced Pro Max laptops with RTX Pro GPUs based on the Blackwell architecture. The company claimed the PCs will be up to 36% faster than the previous-generation Precision PCs.

The Dell Pro Max laptops have “tandem” OLED displays, haptic touchpads, lattice-less keyboards and 8-megapixel IR cameras. The systems come with Intel Core Ultra Series 2 or AMD Ryzen processors, offer screen sizes from 14-in. to 18-in., and will ship later this year. 

Dell did not provide pricing information for the systems.

If you’re looking for an AI PC, why wouldn’t you be looking for a Mac?

After all, Apple’s systems are built for privacy and security and, thanks to Apple Silicon, are now quite capable of running big generative AI (genAI) models swiftly in-house — and at a fraction of the energy costs of Windows-based systems. While a move to Apple won’t suit every company or even every situation, it’s absolutely true that the platform is a viable one for AI, and has remained so for some time.

To understand how viable Macs are for running AI in your business, consider the recently-launched M3 Ultra Mac Studio. Apple made impressive claims for these systems on launch. It told us its highest-end Mac Studio was 16.9 times faster than the M1 Ultra Mac Studio at generating tokens using a large language model (LLM) with hundreds of thousands of parameters. That neat claim was recently put to the test when YouTuber Dave Lee showed us that the most highly specified M3 Ultra Mac Studio is capable of running a 671-billion-parameter AI model natively on the system at under 200 watts of energy. (He used DeepSeek RI, of course.)

A supercomputer on your bookshelf

That’s an amazing statistic; it means you can run a powerful genAI models using DeepSeek on a system that fits on a shelf above your desk, which must be a compelling proposition to any enterprise purchaser considering deployment of an in-house self-hosted system for AI. It’s even more impressive when you consider that comparable performance on traditional PCs would require multiple GPUs and consume 10 times as much energy. 

(You might be able to find some way to put together a PC-based cluster to deliver the same kind of performance, but it is arguable that you’ll still spend the $14,000 you’d need to drop to get the most powerful Mac desktop. (In some cases, you might not need quite as much of a system.)

What this all means — or should mean — is that the enterprise landscape is ripe for Apple. After all, the company’s devices are private by design, secure by nature, and deliver performance and energy consumption advantages other PCs at the same price points don’t match. Not only do they deliver this, but they also have the processor horsepower it takes to run AI natively.

If you just need to run smaller AI models, then an M4 MacBook Air also has you covered, allowing most businesses to now consider Mac-based and self-hosted AI deployments for a range of use cases.

Apple, the perfect endpoint AI solution

While buffeted by bad news elsewhere in its business, the Mac has become a bright star for Apple, thanks to Apple Silicon. While Apple Intelligence might have let the company down, Apple Silicon has not. That matters quite a lot, given a recent report from IDC Research claiming that four-in-five (80%) of PCs sold this year will be AI PCs, though there are some challenges to that.

Apple helps meet those challenges, of course. IDC’s survey revealed that while nearly all organizations are using or intend to use cloud-based AI platforms, the security and data privacy inherent to these systems remains the biggest challenge to broad deployment, even more than cost.

While most business users are looking at the ever-expanding plethora of enterprise-focused cloud-based AI systems, they are really concerned about what happens to their data when shared in the cloud, particularly in regulated industries where compliance matters, such as healthcare.

That’s driving many enterprises seeking to deploy AI to search for solutions that let them deploy genAI tools on endpoints — self-hosted AI that runs natively on a device they own and have in their own office, in other words.

That, of course, is what Apple’s Macs — and certainly its Mac Studio — are more than capable of doing. 

AI models for the few

There’s a lot more to running AI in business than text summaries, automated writing tools, Microsoft Copilot, or even super-smart Webex AI bots; enterprise users are seeking to build or buy their own bespoke AI packages capable of learning from their own heavily curated business data and helping them with their business. That’s not software that necessarily comes in a box (digital or otherwise), but is software that, at best for ultimate privacy and security, runs natively on the device.

Apple Silicon is more than up to the task. (And you get an annual free OS upgrade of what is arguably the most secure operating system, too.)

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AI PCs — devices that directly integrate AI capabilities into hardware and software — are rapidly taking over the PC market; some analysts have gone so far as to designate 2025 the “Year of the AI PC.”

HP is the latest vendor to join the fray. It announced today at its HP Amplify 2025 partner conference that it has completely redesigned its mobile and desktop computers to meet the demands of mainstream enterprise workers, and its fully revamped portfolio is now populated with AI PCs.

“The way we work now is more demanding than ever,” Cory McElroy, HP’s VP for commercial product management, said in a press pre-briefing. “The expectations are different. It’s not enough that devices work well; we need our devices to anticipate our needs and actually help us through our day-to-day.”

The new enterprise devices include both laptops and desktops. Here’s a brief look at the offerings:

ProBook 4 AI PCs

The HP ProBook 4 G1i and ProBook 4 G1a (the “i” and “a” indicate whether the device is powered by an Intel or AMD processor) target remote workers and road warriors who, HP said, “need to get productive with advanced tech, AI workstyles, and multilayered security.”

They offer up to 32GB SDRAM and up to 1TB of storage, with the option to add a second SSD of up to 256GB to the AMD version. Each processor version can be configured with a 14 inch or 16 inch display.

EliteBook 6 AI PCs

The EliteBook 6 G1i and EliteBook 6 G1a are designed for frontline professionals and office support staff, HP said, and offer multiple display sizes: 13 inch, 14 inch, and 16 inch screens for the Intel model, and 14 inches or 16 inches for the AMD versions.

Although they don’t qualify as Copilot+ PCs, they are robustly configured with up to 64GB of DDR5 SDRAM and up to 2TB of storage.

Both Intel and AMD models are equipped with enhanced conferencing and collaboration features, including Poly Camera Pro, which now uses the NPU for many of its advanced features to save power.

EliteBook 8 AI PCs

The EliteBook 8 series offers neural processing unit (NPU) options capable of up to 50 trillion operations per second (TOPS), qualifying some models to be designated Copilot+ PCs and, HP said, providing up to 224% better power efficiency and 43X faster AI image generation than previous generations without NPUs. The series offers up to 64GB DDR5 memory, up to 2TB of storage, and, as with all of HP’s PCs, endpoint security is built in.

McElroy pointed to “new levels of serviceability and intentional design,” as the mobile devices are modular. “Once the bottom cover is removed, vertical components such as battery, fans, storage or other key elements can be much more easily removed than in previous traditional designs,” he explained, to make it easier for enterprise IT to maintain the devices.

HP’s desktop series, EliteDesk 8, is now AI-powered as well, and the company also said it is the world’s first business desktop PC portfolio to protect against quantum computer hacks.

Further, the new HP EliteStudio 8 AiO G1i is the first commercial all-in-one PC with integrated keyboard-video-mouse (KVM) ability through HP Device Switch, allowing users to control, toggle between, and manage multiple devices via a single console. HP calls it an ideal tool for employees constantly moving around the office.

Select models of EliteBook, EliteDesk and EliteStudio also qualify as Copilot+ PCs, making them particularly appealing to enterprise buyers looking to refresh to Windows 11. Microsoft has strict requirements for machines designated Copilot+ PCs: They must run Windows 11, have an NPU capable of 40-plus TOPS, at least 16GB of RAM and a minimum of 256GB of solid state drive (SSD) storage or universal flash storage (UFS).

An onboard ‘AI Companion’

The new devices come with a built-in ‘AI Companion’ that can retrieve, filter and summarize files and create content, among other tasks, all without the need for an internet connection.

Users can leverage the AI Companion in two ways: In ‘on-device’ mode, the companion uses a local large language model (LLM) for the most private AI experience or when the user needs to work offline, McElroy explained. Alternatively, they can switch to ‘cloud mode’ when they need the “latest and greatest” from industry-leading models online.

The companion allows users to snip an image from their screen and use that snip as a prompt. Other new capabilities planned for the spring include what HP called “intuitive voice and text commands,” and built-in keylogger protection to help keep data secure.

“When you have the right tools, work doesn’t have to feel like work,” McElroy noted. “By enabling new AI experiences, new ways of working and the ability to do things faster, we’re powering dynamic change so the entire company can be more productive and fulfilled for their day to day.”

A recent Windows 11 security update is causing unexpected issues for enterprise customers, including the unintentional removal of Microsoft’s Copilot AI assistant from affected systems, creating potential workflow disruptions for organizations that have integrated the AI tool into their operations.

The update, KB5053598 (OS build 26100.3476), released during March’s Patch Tuesday, applies to all editions of Windows 11 version 24H2 and was primarily intended as a security fix. However, Microsoft has acknowledged it contains a flaw that causes the Copilot app to be “unintentionally uninstalled and unpinned from the taskbar” on some devices.

“We’re aware of an issue with the Microsoft Copilot app affecting some devices. The app is unintentionally uninstalled and unpinned from the taskbar,” Microsoft said in an advisory.

Impact on enterprises

For organizations relying on Copilot integration, Microsoft recommends that affected users reinstall the app from the Microsoft Store and “manually pin it to the taskbar” while a permanent fix is developed.

The company clarified that the Microsoft 365 Copilot app remains unaffected by this issue, which may provide some relief to enterprise customers who have invested in the premium AI assistant version.

More concerning for enterprise IT administrators, the update conflicts with Citrix Session Recording Agent (SRA) version 2411, potentially removing January 2025 security updates from systems running this enterprise software.

This regression in security posture could leave systems vulnerable to already-patched exploits, creating additional workload for IT departments that must now carefully manage the update process.

“Devices that have certain Citrix components installed might be unable to complete installation of the January 2025 Windows security update,” the advisory added. Affected systems may initially apply the security update but fail during restart with an error message stating, “Something didn’t go as planned. No need to worry – undoing changes.”

This issue presents a significant challenge for enterprise customers who rely on Citrix virtualization solutions. IT departments must now choose between maintaining security patches and ensuring the operational continuity of critical business applications.

However, the software major stated that this issue likely affects a “limited number of organizations as version 2411 of the SRA application is a new version.”

The company emphasized that home users are unlikely to be affected by Citrix-related problems, as the software is primarily deployed in enterprise environments.

Broader implications

The incident highlights the ongoing challenges of maintaining operating system integrity while rapidly deploying new features and security patches. For enterprise customers, who often maintain strict change management protocols, unexpected application removals, and conflicts can cause significant operational disruptions.

Many organizations have been gradually adopting Copilot as part of their productivity strategy, with some still evaluating its enterprise value. This unintended removal may give pause to IT decision-makers considering broader deployment of AI assistants within their environments.

The bug also underscores the complexity of modern operating system updates, which must account for countless hardware configurations and third-party software interactions. Enterprise customers often delay updates precisely to avoid such issues, creating a delicate balance between security and stability.

Workarounds and solutions

For organizations affected by the Copilot removal, Microsoft’s temporary solution requires manual intervention, potentially creating additional work for IT support teams in large deployments. The company has not provided an estimated timeline for a permanent fix.

Regarding the Citrix compatibility issue, Microsoft recommends that enterprise customers running SRA version 2411 delay the installation of KB5053598 until a resolution is available. For organizations that have already deployed the update and encountered problems, a rollback to the previous version may be necessary.

The update also affects Windows on Arm users who play the Roblox game.

The Microsoft advisory said that such users will be unable to download and play the game from the Windows Store after installing this update, though Microsoft notes the game remains accessible via direct download from Roblox’s website.

While this may seem like a minor issue, it demonstrates how seemingly unrelated applications can be affected by operating system updates.

Microsoft indicated that it is “working on a resolution to address this issue.” The company typically addresses such conflicts through subsequent patches, though enterprise customers may need to implement temporary workarounds in the meantime.

This incident serves as a reminder for enterprise IT departments to maintain robust testing environments and phased deployment strategies for Windows updates, particularly when running specialized software like Citrix SRA. Organizations should also consider documenting their custom application configurations to better identify potential conflicts with future updates.

Finding and summarizing information may not sound like the sexiest task for generative AI — until you need an article you posted on social media but can’t remember the exact word or phrase you used, or you want to answer a quick how-to question without plowing through a lengthy software manual.

There are a lot of ways to set up large language models (LLM) to answer queries based exclusively on information you give them. One of the easiest, which involves no coding at all, is to use a service like Google’s NotebookLM or ChatGPT Projects.

Below I’ll take a look at four genAI web platforms, the strengths of each, and how they perform on sample tasks like searching through a software manual.

4 sample tasks

I tested several platforms on four different types of questions:

• Querying software documentation
• Searching my own LinkedIn posts
• Finding a variable ID for a specific topic
• Getting information about professional conferences

4 generative AI platforms

There are an increasing number of options for no-code “chat with your data.” I looked at four of the best known and most popular: Google’s NotebookLM, OpenAI’s ChatGPT Projects, Anthropic’s Claude Projects, and Perplexity Spaces.

NotebookLM is a dedicated app; the other platforms are more general chatbots that allow users to group and save chats, additional files, and custom instructions related to topics of their choice. These groups are called projects or spaces, depending on the service.

Google NotebookLM

NotebookLM has several advantages:

1. There’s a free version.
2. You don’t have to write special prompts for it to search specifically through the info you upload.
3. It returns citations along with its answers by default, so you can see the source text excerpts it used for its responses.
4. You can give it URLs to read as source material.

NotebookLM is probably best known for generating realistic audio podcasts from your notes, but it’s also quite good at answering questions.

Workflow: Upload your content into a notebook and start asking questions.

Users with free accounts can upload files of up to 500,000 words per source and 50 sources per notebook, or 200MB total for local uploads. And free accounts can have up to 100 notebooks and ask 50 questions per day. Paid Plus users get 500 notebooks, 300 sources per notebook, and 500 queries per day.

Privacy: Google says it won’t use your uploaded files or chat to train its models. Enterprise NotebookLM users via Google Cloud also won’t have their feedback reviewed by human reviewers. Regardless of any privacy policies, though, know your employer’s AI policies for any work-related items.

Sharing: Free users can share full notebooks, which include complete source documents, with specific users. Paid users can share either full notebooks or chat-only notebooks with specific users. Number of allowable shares depends on your account level.

How it performed: Tied for the top spot at 4.5 out of 5.

OpenAI ChatGPT Projects

ChatGPT Projects is available to all paid subscribers — Plus, Enterprise, and Pro. OpenAI says projects are good “for ongoing work, or just to keep things tidy.”

Until recently, projects could only use the GPT-4o LLM; but lately o3-mini and o3-mini-high have shown up as options. Free users without access to Projects can upload files to regular chats and bookmark those to get a somewhat similar experience.

Unlike NotebookLM, ChatGPT probably won’t give you links to see the original text cited in its answer unless you give it specific instructions to do so. (And even then, it might not.) In return, though, its answers will likely be more nicely formatted and arranged.

Workflow: Create a new project by finding Projects in the left nav (you’ll only see this if you’re a subscriber), hovering over it, and clicking the + sign. Give your project a name, and you’ll see a chat interface along with options to add files and custom instructions.

There is a limit to the number of files that can be uploaded, according to ChatGPT help files, but that limit isn’t specified.

Privacy: You can opt out of having your data used to train OpenAI models in account Settings > Data Controls.

Sharing: Projects aren’t shareable. Use Custom GPTs, which can use “instructions, extra knowledge, and any combination of skills,” instead. Those require paid accounts and can be made public or shared to anyone with the link.

How it performed: Tied for the top spot at 4.5 out of 5.

Anthropic Claude Projects

I’m a big Claude fan for a lot of use cases, as I like its writing style, its ability to write R code, and how it follows instructions. But Claude Projects, available only to paid subscribers, has some drawbacks for cases like this.

Anthropic says, “Each project includes a 200K context window, the equivalent of a 500-page book.” That sounds like a lot, but Claude projects have a smaller capacity than the other options I tested. And the answers can degrade if you push up against the limits. Claude Projects is only available for paid accounts.

If you program and use GitHub, Claude can connect to your GitHub account, making it easy to pull in coding or documentation files, which can be very handy. However, if you are interested in using online information in your queries, Claude Projects can’t yet access the internet beyond GitHub or your own Google Docs.

Alexey Shabanov at Testing Catalog reports that Anthropic is testing a feature called Harmony, which would let Claude access a local directory of files “allowing the AI to read, index, and analyze content within the directory.” How that might expand context for project queries isn’t clear.

Workflow: Create a new project by clicking on Projects toward the top of the left navigation — or going straight to claude.ai/projects — and then the Create Project button at the top right. Name the project, describe its purpose, click Create, and you’ll get a conventional chat interface on the left and an area to add project instructions and files on the right.

Privacy: Anthropic says its default is to not use your chats and data to train its models.

Sharing: There’s no sharing unless you’re a Claude Teams subscriber.

How it performed: 3 out of 5, largely because it got a 0 for one test when my data exceeded its project storage limit.

I’m not sure I would pay $20/month just for projects here, but I subscribe for other reasons and appreciate having them.

Perplexity Spaces

Perplexity also has a free version, which excels at targeted searches of information that’s already on the web, such as software or hardware documentation. You can give Perplexity a domain, for example https://help.vivaldi.com/desktop/, and it will search all the content there. (NotebookLM also accepts URLs but for individual pages, not a domain.) This is extremely useful when online software documentation is scattered across many small files on the web.

You need a paid subscription to upload your own files to Spaces and to use top-tier LLMs. If you don’t want to pay, you can upload files to a regular Perplexity chat (maximum of 10 per day).

Workflow: Create a new space by clicking on Spaces in the left nav — or by going directly to perplexity.ai/spaces — and clicking the Create a Space box. A dialog box pops up asking for a Space title, optional description, and optional custom instructions. There’s a chat interface on the left and context section on the right that includes your custom instructions, a files upload section, and a links upload section.

Privacy: You can opt out of having your data used to train Perplexity’s own models in your profile settings.

Sharing: Paid users can have up to 5 collaborators; Enterprise Pro, unlimited.

How it performed: 2.5 out of 5. To be fair, though, my tests didn’t look at Perplexity’s major strength: web search. If you want to combine you own data with web searching, Perplexity would do much better.

During testing, it also felt like Perplexity was least able to figure out what I wanted, at least when using its default “Auto” LLM. It’s always good to be as specific as possible with LLM queries, but I found this to be especially true with Perplexity.

Tests and results

Here’s a summary of how the tools performed in my tests. Read on for details.

TaskNotebookLMChatGPT ProjectsClaude ProjectsPerplexity SpacesSimple tech docs search1110.5Vague social media query10.510Variable ID lookup1101Find a conference0.510.51Find conference sessions110.50Ranking4.54.532.5 1 = correct response, 0.5 = partially correct, 0 = incorrect or no response Test 1: Simple tech documentation search

Question: “What’s the easiest way to get rid of extra white space in text?”

Info source: Documentation for the stringr package in the R programming. Stringr includes a handy str_squish() function to delete excess white space.

Results: Claude, NotebookLM, and ChatGPT answered with str_squish(), which I consider the correct answer. Perplexity assumed I only cared about space at the beginning and end of the text and not in the middle. After a follow-up question, it also found the best function.

Test 2: Somewhat vague search of my social media posts

This was a more difficult task, but something similar to what people might want help with in the real world.

Question: “I really liked an article about LLMs written by Lucas Mearian at Computerworld. Please tell me the specifics based on my LinkedIn posts that I uploaded.”

Info source: 2 years of my LinkedIn posts.

Results: NotebookLM and Claude nailed their responses, each offering two options including the one I wanted. ChatGPT gave me somewhat related articles, but not the one I wanted. (I’d been looking for “What are LLMs, and how are they used in generative AI?”)

Perplexity with its default Auto LLM didn’t give me anything useful, claiming “there is no specific mention of an article about Large Language Models (LLMs) written by Lucas Mearian.”

Test 3: Find a US Census table ID for a specific topic

A lot of businesses use the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) for demographic information. With thousands of available data variables, it can be hard to find one that has the information you want. This type of query could represent a lot of other data lookups businesses might want to do with their own data.

Question: “What is the best variable to use to find information about the percent of workers who work from home?”

Info source: I downloaded and filtered several listings of ACS table variable IDs (filtered because a couple of the lists were too large), along with a general explanation of ACS tables from the Census Bureau website. Since some of these platforms don’t accept CSV files in projects, I saved the variable data as tab-delimited .txt files.

Expected response: Kyle Walker, director of the Center for Urban Studies at Texas Christian University and author of the tidycensus R package, used the DP03_0024P variable in one of his examples, so that’s what I was expecting in a correct answer.

Results: NotebookLM, ChatGPT, and Perplexity all gave me results I could use. (Unexpectedly, I learned that there is more than one correct answer — ChatGPT and Perplexity both found other variables that include the percent of people working from home.)

Claude couldn’t compete on this one, since my three .txt files with data totaling less than 800KB exceeded its “project knowledge” limit.

Test 4: Ask about professional conferences

This test featured two questions for two different data sources: Ask about a conference that might fit my needs, and then ask about conference sessions at one specific conference.

Question 1: “I’m looking for IDG events that will talk about artificial intelligence. I’d like them to be within a 2-hour flight or so from Boston.”

Info source: The IDG global events calendar PDF.

Expected result: The most complete correct answer would cite FutureIT New York in July and FutureIT Toronto April 30 – May 1. Work+ in Nashville at a 2:50 flight would also be a reasonable suggestion.

Results: ChatGPT nailed it with both its more advanced o3-mini-high model and its general 4o LLM, returning the two events that exactly match the criteria.

Perplexity’s Sonar LLM returned both events as well as the CIO100 conference in Arizona, although acknowledging that one is beyond a 2-hour flight.

NotebookLM got it partially right, suggesting FutureIT New York and Work+ in Nashville (which it accurately said was “reasonably close to Boston” — true, it’s less than 3 hours away). However, it missed Toronto.

Claude with its older Sonnet 3.5 model returned both matching events, along with “UK Events for reference, though outside your travel range” — but did not include Nashville. Claude with its newer Sonnet 3.7 in its default setting was worse, finding only one that matched, a couple of others in the US, and two in Europe (noting that those were outside the travel range). When I changed Sonnet 3.7 from its default to “extended” reasoning, it gave a better response: both the New York and Toronto events as well as a virtual event.

Question 2: “Tell me all the sessions at the NICAR conference for people who are already proficient in spreadsheets — that is, they are not beginners, but they want to improve their spreadsheet skills.”

Data source: Text file of the full NICAR data journalism conference schedule.

Results: NotebookLM gave me more than a dozen interesting suggestions involving Google Sheets, Excel, and Airtable, with only one that might not have been relevant. It was definitely more than I would have found by simply searching the conference web page for “Excel” and “Sheets.” Plus, because I could click to zoom into the exact schedule text it cited, it was easy to check for hallucinations.

Brainstorming is one area where many experts say LLMs can shine. I plan to upload other conference schedules to NotebookLM in the future to make sure I don’t overlook potentially useful sessions.

ChatGPT also came up with 12+ sessions that could be of interest, arranged by date and time and more nicely formatted. Claude proposed slightly fewer, but all seemed to match.

Perplexity was disappointing, claiming: “While the provided information does not explicitly list sessions for those proficient in spreadsheets, several sessions at the NICAR 2025 conference could be beneficial for improving spreadsheet skills or learning advanced data analysis techniques.” It suggested only three.

Recommendations

Generative AI cloud services can be a helpful, no-code way to answer questions about your own information — both finding info you know exists and helping you discover new insights.

If you want a platform that’s easy, free, and cites sources so you can check for hallucinations, Google’s NotebookLM is an excellent choice.

If you already subscribe to ChatGPT, its projects are worth a test. They’re set up to handle a wider range of requests than simply Q&A, and ChatGPT’s responses are often better formatted and easier to read than NotebookLM’s. If you’re a free user, you can upload files to conventional ChatGPT chats and get similar capabilities.

Claude may be a good option if you don’t have large amounts of data per project and you’re already subscribing, especially if you want it to answer questions about data in a GitHub repository. If one response is unsatisfactory, try changing model settings.

I found Perplexity to be more compelling for answering questions about information on the web, especially for use cases like software help where the info is spread over a lot of different files within a domain such as slack.com/help. However, I’d probably go with NotebookLM or ChatGPT for local data.

Windows 11 24H2 has been released, but behind the scenes, Microsoft is constantly working to improve the newest version of Windows. The company frequently rolls out public preview builds to members of its Windows Insider Program, allowing them to test out — and even help shape — upcoming features.

Skip to the builds

The Windows Insider program is divided into four channels:

• The Canary Channel is where platform changes (such as major updates to the Windows kernel and new APIs) are previewed. These changes are not tied to a particular Windows release and may never ship at all. Little documentation is provided, and builds are likely to be very unstable. This channel is best for highly technical users.
• The Dev Channel is where new features are introduced for initial testing, regardless of which Windows release they’ll eventually end up in. This channel is best for technical users and developers and builds in it may be unstable and buggy.
• In the Beta Channel, you’ll get more polished features that will be deployed in the next major Windows release. This channel is best for early adopters, and Microsoft says your feedback in this channel will have the most impact.
• The Release Preview Channel typically doesn’t see action until shortly before a new feature update is rolled out. It’s meant for final testing of an upcoming release and is best for those who want the most stable builds.

The Beta and Release Preview Channels also receive bug-fix builds for the currently shipping version of Windows 11. See “How to preview and deploy Windows 10 and 11 updates” for more details about the four channels and how to switch to a different channel.

Not everyone can participate in the Windows 11 Insider program, because the new operating system has more stringent system requirements than Windows 10. If your PC fails to meet the minimum hardware requirements for Windows 11, you cannot join the Windows 11 Insider Program. (See “How to check if your PC can run Windows 11.”)

Below you’ll find information about the Windows 11 preview builds that have been announced by Microsoft in the past six months. (For the Release Preview Channel, we cover builds released for the current version of Windows 11, not for earlier versions.) For each build, we’ve included the date of its release, which Insider channel it was released to, a summary of what’s in the build, and a link to Microsoft’s announcement about it.

Note: If you’re looking for information about updates being rolled out to all Windows 11 users, not previews for Windows Insiders, see “Windows 11: A guide to the updates.”

The latest Windows 11 Insider preview builds Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3576 

Release date: March 17, 2025

Released to: Dev and Beta Channels

In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get several new features, including one in which on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, you can use natural language commands during voice access, rather than having to remember specific voice commands.

The same group gets several bug fixes, including one addressing a bug for users in managed environments, in which your Windows Recall snapshots would get deleted after installing Build 26120.3380 and after each reboot on that build.

There are 16 known issues in this build, including one in which Recall is unable to automatically save snapshots and the setting can’t be turned on in Settings, and another in which Recall is no longer able to save new snapshots or modify settings.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3576.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27813

Release date: March 12, 2025

Released to: Canary Channel

This update, in the words of Microsoft, “includes a small set of general improvements and fixes that improve the overall experience” of using Windows.

The build also fixes two bugs, one which the WDMAud system driver was causing some app crashes, and the other in which Settings > System > Display > Color Management did not always display the expected color profile list for the selected monitor.

There are two known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking Set up my PIN.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27813.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3380 

Release date: March 10, 2025

Released to: Dev and Beta Channels

In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get several new features, including one in which File Explorer displays a new Recommended section that is displayed as a carousel with thumbnail previews. This includes content such as files you frequently use, have recently downloaded, or added to your File Explorer Gallery. Users with a work/school account (Entra ID) will have additional types of recommendations available with this update.

Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get several bug fixes, including for a bug in which windows.storage.dll led caused some apps to crash when files were opened in them.

There are 10 known issues in this build, including one in which Windows Recall is unable to automatically save snapshots, and the setting can’t be turned on in Settings.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3380.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27808

Release date: March 7, 2025

Released to: Canary Channel

In this update, a change is being rolled out in the way Task Manager calculates CPU utilization for the Processes, Performance, and Users pages. Task Manager will now use the standard metrics to display CPU workload consistently across all pages and aligning with industry standards and third-party tools. For backward compatibility, a new optional column called CPU Utility is available (hidden by default) on the Details tab showing the previous CPU value used on the Processes page.

The build also fixes a number of bugs, including one that caused the search window to go blank for some Insiders when searching from the taskbar, due to a background crash.

There are two known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking Set up my PIN. In the other, a d3d9.dll crash is causing multiple apps to fail to launch starting with Build 27802 for some Insiders.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27808.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.5015

Release date: February 28, 2025

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates will see a new system tray icon on the taskbar, which lets you use emojis, GIFs, Kaomoji, etc. across all apps and surfaces in Windows in addition to using the Win + . keyboard shortcut. This new system tray icon can be changed by right-clicking on the icon to go to taskbar settings page.

Those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get a number of new bug fixes, including for a bug in which File Explorer Home crashed for some Insiders.

There are four known issues in this build, including one in which File Explorer is very slow to close for some Insiders when closing using the X button. This may also affect the other title bar buttons.

Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.5015.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3360 

Release date: February 28, 2025

Released to: Dev and Beta Channels

In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get two new features being gradually rolled out, including one in which Task Manager changes the way it calculates CPU utilization for the Processes, Performance, and Users pages. Task Manager will now use the standard metrics to display CPU workload consistently across all pages and aligning with industry standards and third-party tools. Also being added is the ability to share directly to apps that support sharing in Windows when right-clicking on local files in File Explorer or the desktop.

Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get several bug fixes, including for a bug which some people experienced Remote Desktop freezes on login, or frequent disconnect.

There are 11 known issues in this build, including one in which Windows Recall is unable to automatically save snapshots, and the setting can’t be turned on in Settings.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3360.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27802

Release date: February 28, 2025

Released to: Canary Channel

In this update, new battery icons in Windows 11 communicate the battery status of your PC with a quick glance. Key changes include colored icons to indicate charging states, simplified overlays that don’t block the progress bar, and an option to turn on battery percentage.

The build also fixes several bugs, including one that was causing the login screen to crash when clicking the “sign-in options” link for some Insiders.

There are six known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking Set up my PIN.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27802.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3291

Release date: February 21, 2025

Released to: Dev and Beta Channels

In this build, those with Copilot+ PCs can search photos saved in the cloud by using your own words to describe what you’re looking for in the Windows search box on the taskbar.

Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get several bugs fixed, including one in which switching languages crashed live captions if audio was playing or the microphone was enabled.

There are 11 known issues in this build, including one in the Recall feature in which some users may see a message to “Make sure Recall is saving snapshots,” while the Settings page for Recall shows saving snapshots is enabled. Reboot your device to resolve this issue.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3291.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.3321 (KB5052093)

Release date: February 18, 2025

Released to: Release Preview Channel

This build gradually rolls out a number of new features, including one in which you can share files directly from a jump list on the taskbar, and another in which you can find out more information about a background image by hovering over the image or clicking the “Learn about this picture” icon.

A variety of bug fixes are also being gradually rolled out, including one in which when you enter a URL in the File Explorer address bar, it might not go to the location.

The build also immediately fixes a number of bugs, including one in which Remote Desktop stopped working.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.3321.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3281

Release date: February 14, 2025

Released to: Dev and Beta Channels

In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates have the ability to resume working on OneDrive files from your phone (iOS and Android) on your Windows 11 PC with a single click. In addition, when “Restore previous folder windows at logon” is enabled in File Explorer, you can now restore all the extra tabs that you previously had open in each File Explorer window. 

Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get several bug fixes, including for a bug in which if you tried to reset your password from the login screen, it wouldn’t work due to an underlying crash. Another fix addresses a bug for users who have a Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PC, in which File Explorer search was unresponsive and required a reboot to start working.

There are 12 known issues in this build, including one in the Recall feature in which some users may see a message to “Make sure Recall is saving snapshots,” while the Settings page for Recall shows saving snapshots is enabled. Reboot your device to resolve this issue.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3281.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27788

Release date: February 5, 2025

Released to: Canary Channel

This update includes the first in-box public preview of Windows MIDI Services, a complete rewrite of MIDI on Windows for musicians. Windows MIDI Services handles MIDI 2.0 and improves MIDI 1.0 implementation, with automatic translation between the two. It works on 64-bit operating systems on all supported processors, including Arm64.

The build also gradually rolls out the ability to resume working on OneDrive files from your phone (iOS or Android) on your Windows 11 PC with a single click.

The build also fixes several bugs, including one that prevented scanning apps from detecting a connected scanner.

There are six known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking Set up my PIN.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27788.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4870

Release date: February 3, 2025

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, IT administrators in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available get a new group policy called “Disable Widgets On Lock Screen,” which allows them to disable lock screen widgets without disabling widgets elsewhere on PCs they manage. 

Those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get several bug fixes, including for a bug in which the Start menu crashed for some Insiders when they interacted with the letters in the apps list.

Several bugs have been fixed for everyone in the Beta Channel, including one in which PCs did not recognize that USB cameras were on after installing the January 2025 security update.

There are three known issues in this build, including one in which the home page of Settings may crash. If you are impacted by this, you should still be able to open specific Settings pages directly by searching for them from the taskbar.

Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4870.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3073

Release date: January 31, 2025

Released to: Dev and Beta Channels

In this build, those who have Copilot+ PCs get a new feature in Windows Search, in which you can use your own words to find photos stored and saved in the cloud by describing what they are, such as “European castles” or “summer picnics.” In addition to photos stored locally on your Copilot+ PC, photos from the cloud will now show up in the search results as well. Exact matches for your keywords within the text of your cloud files will show in the search results.

The build also includes changes being gradually rolled out for all Windows 11 PCs. Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates will see a Settings home page for commercial customers on PCs managed by an IT administrator. The feature will show some existing cards relevant to enterprise-managed PCs like “Recommended settings” and “Bluetooth devices,” as well as two new enterprise-specific device info and accessibility preferences cards. For commercial customers who also use their Microsoft account on their managed PC, there will also be a new accounts card indicating the presence of both work/school and Microsoft account types. 

Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates also get several bug fixes, including for a bug in which minimized File Explorer windows might not have rendered correctly when restored.

Everyone in the Dev Channel gets several bug fixes, including for one in which the display of some games appeared oversaturated when you used Auto HDR.

There are 18 known issues in this build, including one in the Recall feature in which some users may see a “Make sure Recall is saving snapshots” message while the Settings page for Recall shows saving snapshots is enabled. Reboot your device to resolve this issue.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3073.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27783

Release date: January 29, 2025

Released to: Canary Channel

In this update, users signed into Windows with a Microsoft account will be able to view files that have been shared with the account, such as email, Teams chat, etc., in File Explorer. Commercial customers signed in with a Microsoft Entra ID account will also be able to view files that they have shared with others. You can access this feature by launching File Explorer Home and clicking on the ‘Shared’ tab item.

The build also fixes several bugs, including one in which taskbar preview windows sometimes didn’t display when hovering over open apps in the taskbar.

There are four known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking Set up my PIN.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27783.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4805

Release date: January 24, 2025

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available get a change to Snap in Windows 11 in which inline messaging will now appear when you accidentally invoke the Snap Bar when dragging an app to the top middle of your desktop or Snap Flyout when hovering over the Minimize or Maximize button of an app. This is designed to provide guidance on snapping app windows and educating users on the keyboard shortcuts for quickly snapping app windows in the future.

This group also gets new keyboard shortcuts in Narrator scan mode for quickly jumping to list items and to the beginning or end of large elements such as tables or lists. These changes are gradually rolling out.

There are five known issues in this build, including one in which the Home page of Settings may crash. If you are impacted by this, you should still be able to open specific Settings pages directly by searching for them from the taskbar.

Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4805.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3000

Release date: January 24, 2024

Released to: Dev Channel

In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get new battery icons, including colored icons to indicate charging states, simplified overlays that don’t block the progress bar, and an option to turn on battery percentage. The same group also gets several bug fixes, including for a bug in File Explorer in which you sometimes would be unable to navigate by entering a path in the address bar. These changes are gradually rolling out.

There are 18 known issues in this build, including one in the Recall feature in which some users may see a message to “Make sure Recall is saving snapshots” while the Settings page for Recall shows saving snapshots is enabled. Reboot your device to resolve this issue.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3000.)

Windows 11 Build 26100.3025 (KB5050094)

Release date: January 21, 2025

Released to: Release Preview Channel

This build gradually rolls out a number of new features, including one in which an icon will appear in the system tray when you use an app that supports Windows Studio Effects. This only occurs on a device that has a neural processing unit (NPU). Select the icon to open the Studio Effects page in Quick Settings.

The update also improves the previews that show when your cursor hovers over apps on the taskbar. In addition, the Windows Mobile Hotspot now supports 6 GHz connections. This new band requires chips that support the feature and updated drivers. 

A variety of bug fixes are also being rolled out, including for a bug in which the Snipping Tool screenshots were distorted when you used two or more monitors that have different display scaling.

The build also immediately rolls out a change in which you will now have a standard Windows 11 taskbar after restoring from a backup via the Windows Setup experience (OOBE) on a new Windows PC.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.3025.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4800

Release date: January 17, 2025

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available get a standard Windows 11 taskbar after restoring from a backup via the Windows Setup experience (OOBE) on a new Windows PC. You can still find your apps in the Start menu and Search, and you can pin apps to your taskbar. In addition, the build starts the rollout of the Settings home page for commercial customers on PCs managed by an IT administrator. 

Those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get one bug fix, which includes increased support for text scaling in File Explorer, File Open/Save dialogs, and copy dialogs.

There are three known issues in this build, including one in which the Home page of Settings may crash. If you are impacted by this, you should still be able to open specific Settings pages directly by searching for them from the taskbar.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4800.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27774

Release date: January 16, 2025

Released to: Canary Channel

This update includes a small set of tweaks that Microsoft says improves the overall experience of Windows 11. In addition, the Administrator protection can now be enabled from Windows Security settings under the Account Protection tab, which allows users to enable the feature without requiring help from IT admins.

The build also fixes several bugs, including one in which accent colored window borders were not displayed when enabled, shadows around windows were not displaying when enabled, and window launching (and other) animations were not showing.

There are three known issues in this build, including one in which Insiders joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into the PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking Set up my PIN.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27774.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27768

Release date: January 9, 2025

Released to: Canary Channel

This update includes a small set of general changes that Microsoft says improve the overall experience of Windows 11. It also fixes several bugs, including one in which File Explorer sometimes lost focus on the search box while typing.

There are three known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking “Set up my PIN.”

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27768.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4660

Release date: January 3, 2024

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available get labels added to previously unlabeled actions on File Explorer’s context menu such as cut, copy, paste, rename, share, and delete.

Those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates also get several bug fixes for issues that impacted File Explorer’s performance and reliability.

Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4660.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27766

Release date: January 3, 2024

Released to: Canary Channel

This update includes a small set of general improvements and fixes that Microsoft says improve the overall experience of Windows 11. It also fixes several bugs, including one in which some Insiders experienced frequent explorer.exe crashes after they clean-installed or reset their PC.

There are two known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking Set up my PIN.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27766.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2702

Release date: December 13, 2024

Released to: Dev Channel

In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get a new advanced camera options page. To see it, navigate to a camera under Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Cameras and click the edit button for advanced camera options. Note that this is being gradually rolled out.

Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates also get several bugs fixed, including one in which when pointer trails were enabled, the mouse cursor became invisible with a black box behind it.

One bug is fixed for everyone in the Dev Channel, in which if you rolled back from Build 26120.2510 to an earlier build, you would see a “Your organization used App Control for Business to block this app” dialog when attempting to use or install certain third-party apps on your PC due to an incorrect policy being enforced.

There are seven known issues in this build, including one in which Click to Do sometimes doesn’t highlight any info on screen if there is no content on a connected external monitor in extended mode.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2702.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4655

Release date: December 13, 2024

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available will be able to see visual previews of links or web content they share using the Windows share window. Note that the new feature may not yet be available to everyone because it is being gradually rolled out.

The build also fixes one bug, in which window previews weren’t showing when hovering over certain open apps in the taskbar, for those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates.

Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4655.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27764

Release date: December 11, 2024

Released to: Canary Channel

In this build, when right-clicking on apps pinned to the Start menu, jump lists will be shown for apps that have them, such as PowerPoint. The build also fixes a variety of bugs, including one in which File Explorer might hang when browsing a folder with lots of media in it, and another in which some HDDs were being incorrectly listed as SSD on the Task Manager Performance page.

There are three known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking “Set up my PIN.”

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27764.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4580

Release date: December 6, 2024

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available get several improvements to File Explorer, including one in which if you launch File Explorer folders from outside of File Explorer (for example, from an app or from the desktop), by default they now open in a new tab if you have an existing File Explorer window open. Note that these features are being gradually rolled out, so may not be immediately available.

Those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get a single bug fix, in which Pinyin IME users may unexpectedly switch the IME from Chinese to English when switching between windows.

Everyone in the Beta Channel gets four bug fixes, including for a bug in which Windows stopped responding when you used an Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) USB printer.

Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4580.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27758

Release date: December 4, 2024

Released to: Canary Channel

This build introduces a new advanced camera options page in Settings that includes a multi-app camera setting and a basic camera setting, the latter intended as a last resort when your camera is not functioning correctly. The build also fixes a variety of bugs, including one that could have caused Settings to crash when you selected your default audio device.

There are four known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking “Set up my PIN.”

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27758.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2415

Release date: November 22, 2024

Released to: Dev Channel

This build, for those who have Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, introduces the first preview of the Recall feature that constantly takes screenshots of what you do while you work so you easily find files, web pages, and more. In addition to searching, you can use a timeline to scroll back to what you were doing on your PC at a specific day and time.

Click to Do is also included. It lets you take AI-powered actions on the screenshots taken by Recall, such as erasing objects from them, performing a visual Bing search on them, copying them, sharing them, and more.

In addition, those who have the toggle turned on to immediately get new features will soon get new Windows Hello features that have already been rolled out to the Beta and Canary Channels.

Those who have the toggle turned on to immediately get new features and other changes get a variety of bug fixes, including for a bug in which explorer.exe sometimes crashed when interacting with app icons.

Click to Do has eight known issues, including one in which there a delay before snapshots first appear in the timeline.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2415.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4510

Release date: November 22, 2024

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available can resume working on OneDrive files from a phone (iOS and Android) on a Windows 11 PC with a single click. Users will also be able to right-click and share local files under the Recommended section of the Start menu. Note that these changes will roll out gradually.

Those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get a variety of bug fixes, including one for a bug in which you sometimes could not navigate by entering a path in the address bar.

Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4510.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27754

Release date: November 20, 2024

Released to: Canary Channel

This build revamps Windows Hello in several ways, primarily to make authentication easier. Among the changes is a redesign of using passkeys for more secure and faster authentication. Users can now switch between authentication options and select passkey/devices more intuitively. Beyond that, if you hold Shift and Ctrl when clicking on a jump list item in the Start menu or taskbar, you will launch that item as admin.

The build also fixes a variety of bugs, including one that caused RAW images taken in portrait mode to unexpectedly display in landscape mode thumbnails in File Explorer.

There are six known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking “Set up my PIN.”

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27754.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4510

Release date: November 15, 2024

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available can share files directly from right-click jump lists on the taskbar in supported apps such as Notepad. Note that this feature will roll out gradually.

Those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates also get a fix for a single bug, in which you might have unexpectedly seen a message saying “You’re offline. Widgets are unavailable.”

Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4510.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.2448

Release date: November 14, 2024

Released to: Release Preview Channel

This build gets a wide variety of new features, including one in which when you right-click apps that you have pinned to the Start menu, jump lists will appear for apps that have jump lists. There is also a new section for touchscreen edge gestures. Go to Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Touch. There, you can choose if you would like to turn off the left or right screen edge touch gesture. These features are being gradually rolled out.

There are also a variety of bugs that have been fixed, including one in which the Task Manager’s Users page could have caused Task Manager to stop responding when you used the keyboard.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.2448.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27749

Release date: November 13, 2024

Released to: Canary Channel

This build adds a new shortcut “Narrator key + Ctrl + X” to copy what Narrator last spoke to clipboard. You can use this shortcut in conjunction with “Narrator key + X,” which repeats the last spoken phrase out loud, to review and copy what Narrator spoke.

The build also fixes a variety of bugs, including one in which Task Manager showed a 0 count for apps and processes, and another in which a blank entry in Settings > Privacy would cause Settings to crash if you clicked it.

There are five known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking “Set up my PIN.”

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27749.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2222

Release date: November 8, 2024

Released to: Dev Channel

In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates can hold Shift + Ctrl when clicking on a jump list item in the Start menu or taskbar to launch that item as admin. This feature is being gradually rolled out.

Those who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates also get several bug fixes, including for an issue in which windows unexpectedly moved around after waking from sleep if you had multiple monitors. Note that this is being gradually rolled out.

There are two known issues in this build, including one in which Narrator crashes on launch if you use one of the natural voices, and another in which your desktop background may show big black areas with multiple monitors.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2222.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4445

Release date: November 8, 2024

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, Insiders in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available have a New Folder option in the context menu when right-clicking locations in the navigation pane. Note that this change will be gradually rolled out.

Those who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates also have a variety of bugs fixed, including one in which performing a search unexpectedly triggered the search happening repeatedly. Note that these fixes will be gradually rolled out.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4445.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27744

Release date: November 6, 2024

Released to: Canary Channel

This build includes a major feature update to Prism, Microsoft’s emulator for Windows on Arm, that will make it possible for more 64-bit x86 (x64) applications to run under emulation. This new support in Prism is already in limited use in the retail version of Windows 11 24H2, where it enables the ability to run Adobe Premiere Pro 25 on Arm. Starting with this build, the support is being opened to any x64 application under emulation. You may find that some games or creative apps that were blocked due to CPU requirements before will now be able to run using Prism.

Note that only x64 applications can use these new CPU features. If you have a 32-bit app or a 64-bit app that uses a 32-bit helper to detect CPU feature support, that app won’t detect the new features in Prism.

The build also fixes several bugs, including one in which certain apps did not detect a scanner, although one was connected.

There are three known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you may lose your Windows Hello PIN and biometric sign-in your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking “Set up my PIN.”

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27744.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2213

Release date: November 4, 2024

Released to: Dev Channel

In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates will have the IME toolbar hidden when apps are in full-screen mode for those who have the IME toolbar enabled and type in Chinese or Japanese. Note that this is being gradually rolled out.

Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates also get a variety of bug fixes, including for one in which RAW images taken in portrait mode unexpectedly displayed in landscape mode thumbnails in File Explorer. Note that this is being gradually rolled out.

Everyone in the Dev Channel gets a variety of bug fixes, including for a bug that caused Task Manager to show a 0 count for apps and processes.

There is one known issue in this build, in which the desktop background sometimes may not show correctly with multiple monitors (showing big black areas).

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2213.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4440

Release date: November 1, 2024

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available get a revamped Windows Hello that adheres to contemporary Windows visual design standards. The update also has a small set of general improvements. Note that all these changes will be gradually rolled out.

Those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates also get a single bug fix, for a bug that caused touch keyboard crashes and the IME candidate window not to appear for some Insiders.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4440.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4435

Release date: October 25, 2024

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available can launch an item on the Start menu or taskbar as an admin by holding Ctrl + Shift when clicking. Note that this feature will be gradually rolled out.

Those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates also get several bugs fixed, including one in which the X button to close an app window from the taskbar wasn’t working for some Insiders. This fix will be gradually rolled out.

Everyone in the Beta Channel can now configure the Copilot key again, after that feature was turned off in Build 22635.4291. Everyone in the Beta Channel gets several bug fixes, including for one in which the PIN reset did not work when you selected the “I forgot my PIN’ link on the credentials screen in Windows Hello for Business.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4435.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2200

Release date: October 25, 2024

Released to: Dev Channel

In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates can access Windows Studio Effects in Quick Settings from the system tray of the taskbar. Windows Studio Effects delivers AI-based camera and audio enhancements on devices equipped with a neural processing unit (NPU). Note that this feature is being gradually rolled out.

Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates also get several bugs fixed, including one in which if you clicked or tapped on a letter on the Start menu’s All apps list, the All apps list may have broken. This fix is being gradually rolled out.

Everyone in the Dev Channel gets a variety of bug fixes, including for a bug in which you could not view some parts of the UI when you ran certain apps.

There are two known issues in this build, including one in which there is an unexpected amount of spacing between items in the Start menu apps list.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2200.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4371

Release date: October 18, 2024

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available can now use the new Narrator key + Ctrl + X shortcut to copy what Narrator last spoke to clipboard. It follows the pattern of using Narrator key + X, which repeats the last spoken phrase out loud.

Those who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as possible get several fixes for several bugs, including one in which Narrator would slow down after 15 minutes of continuous use with a single application.

An update for the Snipping Tool (version 11.2409.23.0 and newer) is also being rolled out to Windows Insiders in the Beta and Release Preview Channels. It introduces a new “Copy as table” feature.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4371.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2130

Release date: October 18, 2024

Released to: Dev Channel

In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get several new features, including one in which “All apps” is now just “All” on the Start menu.

Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates also get several bug fixes, including for a bug in which clipboard history did not display items you had copied.

There are two known issues in this build, including one in which if you click or tap on a letter on Start menu’s All apps list, the All apps list may break. If you encounter this issue, try rebooting or restarting explorer.exe to fix it.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2130.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27729

Release date: October 17, 2024

Released to: Canary Channel

This build adds the ability  to configure the Copilot key. You can choose to have the Copilot key launch an app that is MSIX packaged and signed, thus indicating the app meets security and privacy requirements to keep customers safe.

The build also fixes a variety of bugs, including one in which the screen went black for a few seconds for some people when using Alt + Tab.

There are five known issues in this build, including one in which some Insiders with PCs that have older NVIDIA GPUs (like the GTX 970, Quadro K620, etc.) are experiencing some issues where their displays appear stuck at a black screen and unresponsive or seeing their GPUs showing errors in Device Manager and not working correctly.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27729.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4367

Release date: October 11, 2024

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available get a small set of general improvements and fixes that Microsoft claims improves the overall experience of running Windows. They also now have the ability to share directly to apps that support sharing in Windows when right-clicking on local files in File Explorer or the desktop.

Those who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as possible get several bug fixes, including for one in which some Insiders saw an unexpected amount of spacing between items in the Start menu All Apps list.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4367.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2122

Release date: October 11, 2024

Released to: Dev Channel

In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get a small set of general fixes that Microsoft says improve the overall experience of running Windows. The Disconnect and Logoff dialogs in Task Manager now support dark mode and text scaling.

Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates also get one bug fix, for a bug that caused the screen to go black for a few seconds for some people when using Alt + Tab.

Everyone in the Dev Channel gets several bugs fixed, including one in which some Insiders saw error 0x800f0825 when trying to install the latest Dev Channel builds.

There are two known issues in this build, including one in which if you click or tap on a letter on Start menu’s All apps list, the All apps list may break. If you encounter this issue, try rebooting or restarting explorer.exe to fix it.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2122.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.2152

Release date: October 10, 2024

Released to: Release Preview Channel

This build gradually rolls out a number of new features, including one in which you can stop the suggestions to turn off notifications from certain apps. Select the ellipses (…) in the notification and turn it off. You can also go to Settings > System > Notifications and turn it off from there.

The build also immediately rolls out a change in which you can configure the Copilot key on the keyboard. The build also immediately fixes a number of bugs, including one in which you could not sign in to your account from the web because the screen stopped responding.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.2152.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27723

Release date: October 9, 2024

Released to: Canary Channel

This build introduces several minor changes and features, including one in which you can share local files directly from within the search results shown in the search box on the taskbar.

There are five known issues in this build, including one for those using Copilot+ PCs, in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose your Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking “Set up my PIN.”

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27723.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.1930

Release date: October 4, 2024

Released to: Dev Channel

In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get a small set of general improvements and one bug fix, for a bug in which the boot menu wasn’t displaying correctly for some Insiders with dual-boot devices.

Everyone in the Dev Channel can now configure the Copilot key. You can have the Copilot key launch an app that is MSIX packaged and signed, increasing security and privacy.

There are two known issues in this build, including one in which if you click or tap on a letter on Start menu’s All apps list, the list may break. If you encounter this issue, please try rebooting or restarting explorer.exe to fix it.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.1930.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4300 

Release date: October 4, 2024

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available will see “All” instead of “All apps” on the Start menu. In addition, Windows Search runs IFilters in the Less Privileged App Containers (LPACs). LPACs are like app containers, but they deny even more permissions by default. The intent is that a process running in a LPAC has access only to the resources needed by it. This helps to minimize the potential damage that can be caused by a compromised process by limiting its access to sensitive system components and data.

Two bugs are fixed for those who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as possible, including one in which items in the navigation pane became very spread out for some people.

There are two known issues in the build, including one in which live captions will crash if you try to use them.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4300.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27718

Release date: October 2, 2024

Released to: Canary Channel

This build introduces a number of minor new changes and features. You can now drag apps from the Pinned section of the Start menu and pin them to the taskbar. For laptops on battery, a notification will pop up asking you to plug in your laptop if the battery level reaches 20% while Energy Saver is set to “Always On.” 

Several bugs have been fixed, including one in which the emoji panel closed when you tried to switch to the kaomoji and symbols sections, or after selecting an emoji, and another in which the Widgets icon sometimes unexpectedly displayed twice in the taskbar.

There are three known issues in this build, including one for those using Copilot+ PCs, in which If you are joining the Canary Channel from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel or retail, you will lose Windows Hello pin and biometrics to sign into your PC; you’ll see error 0xd0000225 and an error message “Something went wrong, and your PIN isn’t available.” You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking “Set up my PIN.”

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27718.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.1912

Release date: September 30, 2024

Released to: Dev Channel

In this build, those in the Dev Channel who’ve turned on the toggle to receive the latest updates get a small set of general improvements and fixes that Microsoft says improves the overall experience of running Windows. In addition, Windows Mobile Hotspot has been enhanced to support 6GHz connections. The new band requires chips that support the feature and updated drivers; not all chips that support 6GHz Wi-Fi in general will support the 6GHz mobile hotspot.

Those in the Dev Channel who agreed to receive the latest updates also get several bug fixes, including one in which Task Manager’s Settings page might have a white background when it should not.

There is one known issue in this build: if you click or tap on a letter on Start menu’s All apps list, the All apps list may break. If you encounter this issue, try rebooting or restarting explorer.exe to fix it.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.1912.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4291

Release date: September 30, 2024

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned on the toggle to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available get an updated Task Manager design in which the Disconnect and Logoff dialogs in Task Manager now support dark mode and text scaling. They also get several bug fixes, including one in which explorer.exe crashed sporadically when using ALT + Tab in recent builds.

Everyone in the Beta Channel gets several bug fixes, including one in which Work Folders files failed to sync when Defender for Endpoint was on.

There are two known issues in the build, including one in which live captions will crash if you try to use them.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4291)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.1876

Release date: September 23, 2024

Released to: Release Preview Channel

This build, for those using Windows 11 version 24H2, gradually rolls out a number of new features, including one in which when your device’s battery power is running low, a pop-up window will appear that asks you to plug in your device. This occurs when the battery level reaches 20% and while Energy Saver is set to “Always On.

Several bug fixes are being immediately rolled out, including one in which when a combo box has input focus, a memory leak might have occurred when you closed that window.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.1876.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Builds 22621.4247 and 22631.4247

Release date: September 23, 2024

Released to: Release Preview Channel

In this update for users on Windows 11 22H2 and 23H2, a variety of features are being rolled out slowly, including one in which the “Sign out” option is now on the account manager when you open the Start menu. To change to a different user, select the ellipses (…). A list of other users appears to make it easier to switch.

The update also fixes several bugs, including one in which Microsoft Edge sometimes stopped responding when you used IE mode.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Builds 22621.4247 and 22631.4247.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4225

Release date: September 20, 2024

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available will get the ability to share content to an Android device from the context menu in File Explorer and on the desktop. To use this feature, the Phone Link app must be installed and configured on your PC.

Those who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as possible get a fix for a bug in which the emoji panel didn’t work properly.

Everyone in the Beta Channel can now configure the Copilot key. You can choose to have the Copilot key launch an app that is MSIX packaged and signed, thus indicating the app meets security and privacy requirements.

Everyone in the Beta Channel gets several bug fixes, including for a bug in which some Insiders experienced a bug check when closing Notepad.

There is one known issue in the build, in which if you click or tap on a letter on the Start menu’s All apps list, the list may break. If you encounter this issue, try rebooting or restarting explorer.exe to fix it.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4225.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.1843

Release date: September 20, 2024

Released to: Dev Channel

In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get a new feature, in which File Explorer provides you with quick access to files that have been shared with you. If you are signed into Windows with your Microsoft account or Entra ID account, you will be able to view files that have been shared with your account, such as email, Teams chat, etc. You can access this feature by launching File Explorer Home and clicking on the Shared tab.

Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get several bug fixes, including one in which when pressing Windows key + E, a screen reader might unexpectedly say a pane had focus, or focus may not be set within File Explorer at all.

Everyone in the Dev Channel gets a number of bug fixes, including one in which could result in the Widgets icon unexpectedly displaying in the taskbar twice sometimes.

There are four known issues in this build, including one in which if you click or tap on a letter on Start menu’s All apps list, the list may break. If you encounter this issue, try rebooting or restarting explorer.exe to fix it.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.1843.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4145

Release date: August 30, 2024

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available will see several new features, including one in which the Sign out option is immediately visible in the new account manager on the Start menu. There’s also a list of signed in users under the three-dot icon so it’s faster to switch accounts. The mouse and touchscreen controls have more options, and hotspots now appear on the desktop when users right-click the Windows Spotlight icon. The changes are being rolled out gradually.

Those who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as possible get fixes for several bugs, including one in which explorer.exe crashed when interacting with archive files. These fixes are being rolled out gradually

Everyone in the Beta Channel gets a number of bug fixes, including for a bug in which the [NetJoinLegacyAccountReuse] registry key has been removed.

There is one known issue in the build: if you click or tap on a letter on Start menu’s All apps list, the All apps list may break. If you encounter this issue, try rebooting or restarting explorer.exe to fix it.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4145.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27695

Release date: August 30, 2024

Released to: Canary Channel

In this build, Windows Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS) has been improved with a new ability to recover encrypted passwords from Active Directory (AD) backup media even when there are zero AD domain controllers running.

A number of bugs have been fixed, including one in which Ctrl + F would sometimes not start a search in File Explore, and another in which the colors in the Performance section of Task Manager weren’t displayed correctly in dark mode.

There are two known issues in this build, including one for those using Copilot+ PCs, in which  If you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel or retail, you will lose your Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC with error 0xd0000225 and error message “Something went wrong, and your PIN isn’t available.” You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking Set up my PIN.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27695.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4082

Release date: August 26, 2024

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available will see the media controls at the lower bottom center of the Lock screen when media is being played. There is also now an option to turn off the suggestions to disable notifications from certain apps. These features are being rolled out gradually.

Those who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as possible get fixes for several bugs, including one in which explorer.exe crashed for some Insiders when closing apps from the taskbar. These fixes are being rolled out gradually.

Everyone in the beta channel gets one bug fix, in which the [NetJoinLegacyAccountReuse] registry key has been removed.

There are two known issues for everyone in the Beta Channel, including one that causes explorer.exe to crash when interacting with archive files.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4082.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Builds 22621.4108 and 22631.4108

Release date: August 19, 2024

Released to: Release Preview Channel (Windows 11 23H2 and 22H2)

Starting with this update, a variety of features will be rolled out slowly, including one that lets you share content to your Android device from the Windows Share window. To do this, you must pair your Android device to your Windows PC. Use the Link to Windows app on your Android device and Phone Link on your PC.

A number of bugs are being fixed, including one in which when a combo box has input focus, a memory leak might occur when you close that window.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Builds 22621.4108 and 22631.4108.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22610.1586

Release date: August 19, 2024

Released to: Release Preview Channel (Windows 11 24H2)

This build, for those with Windows 11 version 24H2, gradually rolls out a new feature in which when you right-click a tab in File Explorer, you have the choice to duplicate it.

A wide variety of bug fixes are being gradually rolled out, including for a bug in which memory leak occurred when you interacted with archive folders and another in which File Explorer stopped responding when you browsed within it.

Three bug fixes have been immediately released to everyone, including one in which a deadlock occurred in the domain controller (DC) when it started up in the DNS client.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.1586.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4076

Release date: August 19, 2024

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates will find that a feature introduced in Build 22635.3930 that showed a Studio Effects icon in the system tray when using any application with a Studio Effects-enabled camera has temporarily been disabled. It will be re-enabled in a future build.

Those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get a variety of bug fixes, including for a bug in which  Voice Access commands weren’t working for non-English supported languages.

A wide variety of bugs are fixed for everyone in the Beta Channel, including one in which Windows Backup sometimes failed in devices with an Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) system partition (ESP).

There are two known issues for everyone in the Beta Channel, including one in which explorer.exe crashes when interacting with archive files.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4076.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.1542

Release date: August 19, 2024

Released to: Dev Channel

In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get a new feature that adds first letter navigation support to the taskbar. When keyboard focus is set to the taskbar (WIN + T), you can press a letter, and it will jump to the open or pinned app whose name starts with that letter. The feature is being gradually rolled out so isn’t yet available to everyone.

Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get fixes for three bugs, including one in which the emoji panel closed when trying to switch to the kaomoji and symbols sections, or after selecting an emoji.

Everyone in the Dev Channel gets a number of bug fixes, including for a bug in which adding languages or optional features might fail with error 0x800f081f.

There are two known issues in this build, including one in which navigating between different pages in Task Manager may crash it.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.1542.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27686

Release date: August 15, 2024

Released to: Canary Channel

This build includes the new Windows Sandbox Client Preview that is now updated via the Microsoft Store. It introduces runtime clipboard redirection, audio/video input control, and the ability to share folders with the host at runtime. You can access these via the new “…” icon at the upper right on the app. This preview also includes a very early version of command line support. (Commands may change over time.) You can use the wsb.exe –help command for more information.

The build also includes optimizations to improve battery life and a detach virtual hard disk (VHD/VHDx) button in Settings that makes it simpler to detach your VHD/VHDx as needed.

A number of bugs have been fixed, including one in which Dev Drive VHDs weren’t automatically remounting when the underlying volume was dismounted and brought back online, and one in the Windows Security app where if you browsed the networks under Firewall & Network protection, it showed a broken glyph (a rectangle) next to the network name rather than a network icon.

There are two known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking “Set up my PIN.”

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27686.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.1350

Release date: August 9, 2024

Released to: Dev Channel

In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates can more easily share content to an Android device from Windows share window. The feature requires you to pair your Android device to your Windows PC using the Link to Windows app on Android and Phone Link on your PC. The feature is being rolled out gradually.

Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get one fix that addresses an issue in which graphs on the Performance page in Task Manager did not show the correct colors when using dark mode again. The fix is being rolled out gradually.

Everyone in the Dev Channel gets several bug fixes, including for a bug in which Windows Sandbox failed to launch with error 0x80370106.

There are four known issues in this build, including one in which navigating between different pages in Task Manager may crash it.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.1350.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4010

Release date: August 9, 2024

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, many of those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates will see the simplified system tray with shortened date/time change that began rolling out with Build 22635.3930. The feature is being rolled out gradually.

Those who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get fixes for two bugs, one in which the dropdown at the top of the GPU section of Performance wasn’t showing in dark mode when dark mode was enabled, and the other in which if you pressed the Shift key when you right-clicked on an app icon on the taskbar, it opened another instance of the app rather than opening the expected menu.

There are three known issues for everyone in the Beta Channel, including one that causes explorer.exe to crash for some Insiders when closing apps from the taskbar.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4010.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.1340

Release date: August 5, 2024

Released to: Dev Channel

In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get improvements for spelling and corrections in voice access, including the ability to dictate characters at a faster speed and have more editing flexibility with selection, deletion, and text navigation commands.

Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get a fix for a bug in which items under “Let desktop apps access your location” section in Settings > Privacy & Security > Location had visibly flickered although there were no changes displayed.

There are four known issues in this build, including one in which navigating between different pages in Task Manager may crash it.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.1340.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4005

Release date: August 2, 2024

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get a small set of general tweaks and fixes that Microsoft says improves the overall experience of running Windows.

Those who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get one fix for a bug that caused sporadic explorer.exe crashes for some Insiders.

There are three known issues for everyone in the Beta Channel, including one that causes explorer.exe to crash for some Insiders when closing apps from the taskbar.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4005.)

The launch this weekend by Baidu of a native open-source multimodal foundation model called ERNIE 4.5 and a reasoning model, ERNIE X1, could lower AI adoption barriers, intensify competition, and reshape pricing strategies across the industry, an analyst said Monday.

In order for that to occur, said Thomas Randall, research lead for AI at Info-Tech Research Group, “the success of these models will depend on performance validation, developer adoption, and enterprise trust. However, they signal a global AI race where cost-efficiency and accessibility become as important as raw capability.”

The Chinese tech giant said in a release that the introduction of the two offerings “pushes the boundaries of multimodal and reasoning models,” adding that ERNIE X1 “delivers performance on par with DeepSeek R1 at only half the price.”

It is now clear that Google Assistant will be replaced by generative AI (genAI) tool Gemini in most Android-based phones. The process is expected to begin shortly and be completed before the end of the year, according to the official Google blog The Keyword.

Mobile phones running Android 9 or earlier will not be affected by the decision, as they would likely run into problems using Gemini.

In addition to smartphones, Gemini will also be integrated into tablets, smart watches, televisions, monitors, cars and headphones, according to 9to5Google.

Apple has a lot of challenges these days. Would Steve Jobs really be handling these problems better than current leaders?

The problems, some are long-term, others short-term, include (but are not confined to):

• Chinese consumers turning to domestic brands in response to the US trade war.
• US customers feeling the impact of tariffs and anticipated increase in product prices.
• Regulators in every nation seemingly intent on chipping away at the services empire Apple built from thin air. 
• Apple’s recently-disclosed failure to launch with Apple Intelligence.
• Supply chain problems, partly in response to trade wars and partly exposed during Covid, when single-source supply chains collapsed overnight.
• Declining consumer trust in technology.

These challenges are in addition to the tasks Apple has always had to manage — maintaining hardware and software quality, developing new products and services that surprise and delight customers, building consumer engagement, and inventing the best hardware in the world. A look at the recently introduced Mac Studio and M4 MacBook Air  show the company still has the ability to do that. Both are the best computers in the world in their class.

Challenges everywhere

But the central problem Apple has is mirrored in its own actions. 

You see, reports claim the company’s marketing teams insisted on promoting Apple Intelligence and its much-vaunted contextual understanding of users, even though the feature wasn’t ready. They not only insisted on it, but they also went large on pushing it, helping build just the right environment to create a crisis of belief when it was revealed the company would be unable to make the grade. (Subsequent reports suggest the feature is already working, but just not consistently enough; perhaps Apple should introduce it as a public beta to show how far it’s come.)

What problem does this mirror? 

Just as Apple’s own teams focused on a service that wasn’t ready, the rest of us out here continue to seek solace in impossible dreams. We live in a world of confusion in which populists, snake oil salesmen, and fake thought leaders thrive. Lack of belief, combined with a search for easy answers, means we choose the answers that seem easy. That’s what happened with Apple Intelligence — so great was the need to seem to occupy space in AI, the company chose to market a feature it hadn’t got working yet. 

It took an easy road, rather than a hard one, and in doing so reflected the muddy waters of our times.

That’s not how things were when Jobs introduced the iMac, iPod, or iPhone. Back then, we thought tech would help us, social media hadn’t yet been weaponized against wider public good, and many still wanted to believe global governments would meet the goals of Agenda 21, rather than using 1984 as an instruction manual. Conflict hadn’t yet exposed the deep rifts underlying the fragile global consensus, and Apple under Jobs spoke a language of hope and optimism that reflected a more optimistic zeitgeist. 

Apple today can’t cling to that past. 

A new language for a new time

That aspect of the brand no longer seems to match the existence so many of its customers experience. And it’s arguable whether senior management, ensconced in the Silicon Valley bubble, is exposed enough to identify a product design and marketing language that resonates in our new, highly complex, polarized, conflicted reality. While Apple has done extraordinarily well as the ultimate aspirational brand and enthusiasm for its products will remain among those who can reasonably afford them. But declining sales means declining profits, and in a world set up to mirror Wall Street’s irrational belief that perpetual growth is possible on a finite planet, decline is unacceptable.

That’s true even for the most successful company in human history.

That’s a lot of pressure for Apple’s top brass to handle. Plus, of course, in every case, the answers they have available to them appear to be least-worse responses, rather than good ones. Adding additional complexity, the challenges are themselves intertwined as societies everywhere undergo significant structural change, as political forces of various hues attempt to hold things together with false narratives of a history that never really happened. 

Just how can the future look better tomorrow when it’s based on a past that never existed? 

The journey

All the same, the more complex things become, the harder we work just to stand still. And with myriad connected challenges, it’s not at all certain even Steve Jobs would be able to visualize an easy way through. The simple answer is to keep hope alive, but the uncomfortable truth is that, just as it did with the iMac, Apple’s biggest challenge now is to find a consumer product truly emblematic of its time, something that speaks to us of who are we, what we need, and where we are going. 

In that light, perhaps the failure of the launch of Apple Intelligence really reflects the time we’re in. We can see the mountain but can’t yet make it to the top.

You can follow me on social media! Join me on BlueSky,  LinkedIn, and Mastodon.

Cisco is adding new features to its Webex collaboration tool as it expands its adoption of agentic AI.

The latest tools include an AI Agent and an updated AI Assistant for the company’s Webex Contact Center, a collaborative tool that helps companies handle customer service calls. The AI tools are designed to bolster customer service experiences.

The announcements came on the opening day of the Enterprise Connect show in Orlando, FL.

The Webex AI Agent, slated to be available at the end of this month, should make customer service calls smoother by using AI alongside human agents. The goal is to reduce wait times and use intelligent ways to resolve issues.

According to Cisco, the Agent will allow companies to tackle complex real-time customer service queries by handling more dynamic conversations. The tool can also run scripted agents with preconfigured responses, Cisco said.

One use case highlighted by Cisco, for example, could help airline customers change flights in real-time by querying timing preferences, providing a range of flight options, and completing the call by making the booking. The agent uses AI technology to connect corporate information systems to customer queries.

The company also added new Cisco AI Assistant features to its Webex Contact Centers. That tool is an assistant for customer service agents that can make recommendations for answering customer queries.

The agent, originally rolled out in February, uses a number of tools to understand customer intent and then provides appropriate recommendations. The goal is to help human agents provide better responses.

For example, one new tool can allow accurate transcription of calls, making it easier to understand speakers with accents or unusual speech patterns. It can also provide context for complex discussions, along with real-time recommendations on actions or responses, Cisco said.

Some of the previously added tools can provide summaries on dropped calls or interactions with virtual agents before calls are transferred to human agents. Still other tools can measure customer satisfaction or pull information from past calls and topics to improve customer service experiences.

Cisco also announced it has integrated Apple’s AirPlay on Cisco Devices for Microsoft Teams Rooms, which enables “instant wireless content sharing from iPhone, iPad or Mac to Cisco Devices.”

Google’s generative AI chatbot, named Gemini, is available as a web app. But you can also access most of Gemini’s AI tools in a side panel as you’re using Google Workspace apps including Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drive, and Gmail. Using the Gemini sidebar within a Workspace app is much more convenient and contextual than copying and pasting between browser tabs.

When you’re in one of these five main Workspace apps, open the Gemini side panel by clicking the nova star icon that’s next to your user profile icon at the upper-right corner. From this side panel, you can instruct Gemini to generate new content (such as text, tables, or slides), make changes to your current document or other file, or analyze its content to provide context.

The Gemini side panel in Google Docs.

Howard Wen / Foundry

Keep in mind that, like all genAI tools, Gemini can make mistakes, so it’s always advisable to check the output carefully for errors. What’s more, the copy it writes is often generic and flat, but it can be a useful starting point for you to refine and add color to.

As you’ll see, Gemini’s real strengths lie in taking away drudge work such as summarizing a long document or extracting a key piece of information from a sea of emails. This guide explains how to use these AI capabilities from the Gemini side panel in the Google Workspace apps.

Who can use Gemini in Google Workspace apps

The Gemini AI tools that include this side panel are now included with paid Google Workspace plans from the Business Standard plan and up. If you have a regular Google personal account, you can subscribe to Google One AI Premium to have access to these tools. Or, for no cost, you can sign up for access to Google Workspace Labs with your Google account to be permitted to try out Gemini in the Workspace apps.

Get started: Use a suggested prompt or type in your own

In the Gemini side panel, you’ll usually see suggested prompts — these are action links you can click that instruct the AI to do something, such as creating an outline.

Many of these suggested prompts will be the same, or similarly phrased, across the five Workspace apps that you can use the Gemini side panel in. But they can also vary from app to app and sometimes depend on whether you start with a blank document or open an existing one.

Suggestions in the Gemini side panel for Gmail, Sheets, and Slides.

Howard Wen / Foundry

In Docs, for instance, Gemini might prompt you to brainstorm a list of ideas, whereas in Slides it might prompt you to create a slide to pitch an idea. In some cases, prompts might be customized for you based on the emails in your Gmail account or files in your Google Drive. (If you want to see additional suggested prompts, click More suggestions in the panel.)

To choose a prompt, click it, and it will appear in the entry box at the bottom of the window, where you can customize it for your needs. When it’s worded the way you want, press Enter.

Or you can skip the suggested prompts: just type your own prompt inside the entry box and press Enter.

Next steps: Insert, copy, retry, or refine

After you enter your prompt, Gemini generates a result, which appears in the side panel. Like all genAI tools, Gemini sometimes makes errors, so you’ll want to carefully check over its output.

If you’re happy with the result, you can click the arrow icon on the toolbar below it to insert the generated text, image, or other content into your document, email draft, slide, or spreadsheet. Or you can click the Copy button to copy it to your PC clipboard.

Gemini’s generated result appears in the side panel.

Howard Wen / Foundry

If you want to see what the result will look like in your document before inserting it, click the vertical three-dot icon (More options) and select Preview. If you wish, you can send Google feedback on the result by clicking the thumbs up or thumbs down icon on the toolbar.

Right above this toolbar, you may see a link labeled “Sources.” When clicked, this action will list the sources (your documents, emails, presentations, spreadsheets, etc.) that Gemini used to generate the content.

If you’re not happy with Gemini’s generated result, you can instruct it to generate a fresh result from your original prompt by selecting More options > Retry or More options > Retry with Google Search in the toolbar.

Below the toolbar you might see one or more additional prompt suggestions. Click a suggestion, and Gemini will generate a second result that builds on the first one.

Another option is to instruct Gemini to refine the current result rather than starting over from scratch. To do so, just type how you want the result refined into the entry box and press Enter.

A few additional tips for using the Gemini side panel:

• To erase your previous prompts and results from the panel, click the three-dot icon (More options) at the top of the Gemini side panel and click Clear history.
• To make the side panel larger so you can see the results better, click the Expand button immediately to the right of the More options button at the top of the panel.
• To close the side panel, click the X in its upper right corner.

7 useful tasks to try via the Gemini side panel

Now that you know how to use the side panel, let’s look at some specific use cases. There are too many possible actions to cover in this article, and Google adds new capabilities all the time. But here are some common examples of what you can prompt Gemini to do.

1. Summarize documents and emails

Gemini can quickly summarize your emails and files stored in Google Drive in a variety of ways.

In Docs, Sheets, and Slides: Open a document, spreadsheet, or presentation, then open the Gemini sidebar. When you do, Gemini automatically generates a summary of the file, provided that it has enough text or data content. The summary appears near the top of the Gemini panel; you may need to click the three-dot icon (View more) to see the whole thing.

Gemini can instantly summarize the contents of a document.

Howard Wen / Foundry

In Drive: Select a document or other file, then click Summarize this file on the toolbar above the file listing. This will open the Gemini side panel, and a summary for the contents of the file will be generated if possible.

Gemini can summarize documents stored in Google Drive.

Howard Wen / Foundry

You can summarize all the contents of a folder in Google Drive in the same way. Navigate to the folder in Drive, select it, and click Summarize this folder on the toolbar above the listing.

Another method to summarize files in Drive is to open the Gemini sidebar first, then write a prompt in the entry box telling it what you want it to summarize. Type summarize @ and start typing the document’s filename. A small menu of suggested files will open, and you can select the one you want.

If you can’t remember the filename, you can try describing the document or file, and Gemini may be able to determine which file you’re referring to. You can also instruct Gemini to summarize more than one document or file together.

Examples:

• Summarize the meeting notes from the July meeting
• Summarize @Office Budget Winter and @Office Budget Annual

In Gmail: Open an email or email thread first. Then, in the Gemini side panel, you can click a suggested prompt to generate a summary of the email or thread.

You can also prompt Gemini to summarize multiple emails, even if they’re not in a single thread. To do so, open the Gemini sidebar and describe what you want it to summarize in the entry box.

• Give me a summary of the emails that Saulo sent me regarding our upcoming meeting
• Summarize the emails I sent to Mona over the last week

Gemini can also summarize multiple emails based on a description you provide.

Howard Wen / Foundry

2. Extract specific info from files or emails

Instead of asking Gemini to summarize an entire document or email, try asking it questions about your files in Drive or about your emails in Gmail to extract specific information.

• What are the key points in @Business Plan: IT Consulting for Restaurant Management?
• How much is allocated for new technology purchases @Office Budget Annual?
• How much has [business name] charged me this year?

Ask Gemini for specific information from your emails and files.

Howard Wen / Foundry

3. Create a table

Gemini can generate a table template with headings, placeholder text, and even formulas in its cells. After you insert it into your document, email draft, slide, or spreadsheet, you fill out the table with your own data.

Gemini works best at designing tables for project management, so try describing a table that has dropdowns, lists, task lists, or to-dos. It can also generate a data table that you can insert into a spreadsheet and then create a chart from it.

• Make me a table depicting 12 months with 3 categories per month
• Create a table with dropdowns with selections that include Greek, Japanese, Italian for a business luncheon

A generated table template in Sheets.

Howard Wen / Foundry

When you create a table in Sheets, it will appear as an overlay on the spreadsheet. Click the Insert button below it to insert it in the spreadsheet.

Note: In Sheets, when you launch a new, blank spreadsheet, the Tables side panel will automatically open on the right. To switch to the Gemini side panel, either click the “Help me create a table” button in the Tables side panel or just click the nova star icon at the top of the screen.

If the spreadsheet you open already has data in the cells, and they’re not organized in a formal way, try clicking one of the Create a table suggested prompts. Gemini will generate a table with this data arranged in a neater fashion.

Finally, it’s worth noting that Sheets has another table template tool called Help Me Organize that we’ve covered previously. See “How to use Gemini AI to make templates in Google Sheets” for details on how to use it, along with ideas for crafting successful table prompts that would work in the Gemini sidebar as well.

4. Create an image

Describe the kind of image that you want Gemini to generate. In Slides, you can prompt Gemini to generate an image based on the content of the slide that you’re currently viewing in the main window.

• Create a cartoon of a giraffe reading a menu while seated at a restaurant table
• Create an image based on the current slide

In Slides, Gemini can create images related to the current slide’s content.

Howard Wen / Foundry

5. Write a text draft

You can use the Gemini side panel to generate a first draft for an email or document. In Docs or Gmail, open the side panel and type a prompt describing the kind of text that you want Gemini to generate.

• Create an opening paragraph pitching my IT consulting service for restaurant owners
• Create an email to send to Eric Jones in which I suggest we catch up at the tech conference in San Diego next week

Using email as an example, from the main page of your Gmail account, open the Gemini side panel and enter your prompt. If you like Gemini’s generated draft, click the Insert button, and a composition window for a new email will open with the generated text inserted into it. You can add or make changes before sending it out, or leave it in your Drafts folder to work on later.

A new email draft generated by Gemini.

Howard Wen / Foundry

The Gemini side panel will also present suggested prompts that you can click to guide you through refining or rephrasing your document or email draft.

All that said, a better way to generate and redo text is to use the Help Me Write tool (which is also powered by Gemini). See our story “How to use Gemini AI to write (and rewrite) in Google Docs and Gmail” for full instructions on using Help Me Write.

6. Create a formula in Sheets

Don’t know most of the formulas that you can use in Sheets, or want some ideas? Describe to Gemini the kind of calculation you want, and the AI will try to generate something workable. You can then insert the formula into a cell on your spreadsheet.

• Formula for the sum of Column B divided by 10 and then multiplied by 1.67
• Formula to calculate compound interest at 3.5% over 3 years

In Sheets, Gemini can help you create a formula.

Howard Wen / Foundry

7. Create a slide in Slides

In Slides, describe a slide that you want Gemini to generate.

You can even ask Gemini to create a slide based on the content of a document, spreadsheet, or other file in your Google Drive.

• Create a slide that introduces an annual business budget report
• Create a slide using @Office Budget Winter

Gemini can create a slide based on a document or other file.

Howard Wen / Foundry

This is just a sampling of what you can ask Gemini to do in Google Workspace apps. Once you start experimenting, you’ll likely find numerous ways it can help you in your work.

[ See more Google Workspace tips and tutorials ]

Imagine a world of the near future where Android and Apple iOS users can message one another with the certainty that their communication is secured against eavesdropping by end-to-end encryption (E2EE).

And it would not only be for one-to-one chats, but across large groups of employees and users, something that is impossible to guarantee today without resorting to standalone apps such as WhatsApp.

These capabilities might soon be a reality, thanks to a technical specification released this week, the GSM Association’s RCS Universal Profile version 3.0.

In development since 2007 as a replacement for SMS, Rich Communication Services (RCS) already allows a range of features including read receipts, typing indicators, and media sharing. But E2EE security, a much more complex technical feat, has always proved elusive.

Thanks to some IETF-backed magic inside RCS 3.0 called the Messaging Layer Security (MLS) protocol, that is about to change. Specifications may come and go, but history suggests that the addition of security to a spec is always a significant moment when people start to feel more positive about its adoption; at least that’s what the GSMA is hoping.

This is especially true for businesses, which value two features above all: absolute certainty about messaging security, and the ability for employees to communicate in large groups. RCS 3.0 with MLS delivers on both fronts, said GSMA technical director, Tom Van Pelt.

“[This ensures] that messages and other content such as files remain confidential and secure as they travel between clients,” he said.

“RCS will be the first large-scale messaging service to support interoperable E2EE between client implementations from different providers. Together with other unique security features such as SIM-based authentication, E2EE will provide RCS users with the highest level of privacy and security for stronger protection from scams, fraud, and other security and privacy threats,” said Van Pelt.

RCS fragmentation

RCS 3.0’s big feature is interoperability, which makes it easier for different apps to implement the same features consistently.  Today, while RCS is widely implemented by OS platforms, mobile networks, and device makers, each does it in their own way. This has led to fragmentation, hindering uptake. 

The result is that if you want to send a secure RCS message between Android devices, you need to use Google’s own Messages app at both ends; it implements E2EE using the well-worn Signal protocol. Similarly, Apple adopted RCS in iMessage last year, but with a proprietary implementation of E2EE.

In short, it’s a confusing jumble. This is one reason why alternatives such as WhatsApp and Signal, both of which also use the Signal protocol, have become so popular; you get E2EE out of the box without compatibility worries, and they allow groups of up to 1,024 members.

Having a single protocol, MLS, covering E2EE changes the story. Now RCS with MLS can offer a range of advanced features including large groups, which are critical for businesses which need many-to-many communication. Right now, if even one user in a group is using an RCS app without compatible E2EE, the security of the whole group chat can be compromised. MLS gives every app maker one IETF standard to aim for.

The WhatsApp effect

Google has said it plans to adopt MLS inside Messages, which means replacing the proven Signal protocol that struggles to handle larger groups. That will take time, during which it will probably support one with a fallback to the other. Apple, too, said it is committed to MLS.

“We will add support for end-to-end encrypted RCS messages to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS in future software updates,” said Apple spokesperson Shane Bauer, in support of the GSMA.

As the two biggest platform apps, these names are important. However, one that’s not on the RCS list yet is WhatsApp, an app for both Android and Apple that, with three billion users, operates in a parallel world to RCS-enabled apps.

WhatsApp is in no hurry to adopt MLS. For parent Meta, the real prize is to turn WhatsApp into a secure business communications platform that dominates the messaging space across multiple types of engagement. Despite that, it will eventually have to adopt MLS in some form, not least to comply with the EU’s Digital Markets Act, which mandates greater app interoperability.

“It’s questionable if and when WhatsApp and Signal are going to support this protocol, as both have already implemented end-to-end encryption within each respective ecosystem,” commented Arne Möhle, CEO of secure email provider Tuta Mail.

“As an encrypted email service, we can also say that interoperability is a challenge,” he added. “It comes with complications such as spam and phishing attempts, an issue that WhatsApp has had to fight hard against. This will get even worse once the app starts allowing people to chat with their friends on other platforms as well.”

But E2EE was only today’s privacy issue. Soon, he predicted, messaging platforms will need to evolve to counter the ability of quantum computers to undermine the security of public key encryption.

“The GSMA protocol needs to be updated with quantum-resistant encryption keys,” said Möhle.

Ironically, a major uncertainty is E2EE itself. This is now being probed by the UK government, which has decided to use Apple as its test case in a campaign to introduce backdoors into the encryption used in iCloud services. So far, Apple is resisting, choosing to disable security rather than allow surveillance. Talks are reportedly ongoing.

E2EE, which stores keys on devices rather than centrally, isn’t part of this effort, but might come under fire if the UK government reheats its controversial idea of client-side scanning (scanning messages before they are encrypted on-device).

Long before Taco Tuesday became part of the pop-culture vernacular, Tuesdays were synonymous with security — and for anyone in the tech world, they still are.  Patch Tuesday, as you most likely know, refers to the day each month when Microsoft releases security updates and patches for its software products — everything from Windows to Office to SQL Server, developer tools to browsers.

The practice, which happens on the second Tuesday of the month, was initiated to streamline the patch distribution process and make it easier for users and IT system administrators to manage updates.  Like tacos, Patch Tuesday is here to stay.

In a blog post celebrating the 20th anniversary of Patch Tuesday, the Microsoft Security Response Center wrote: “The concept of Patch Tuesday was conceived and implemented in 2003. Before this unified approach, our security updates were sporadic, posing significant challenges for IT professionals and organizations in deploying critical patches in a timely manner.”

Patch Tuesday will continue to be an “important part of our strategy to keep users secure,” Microsoft said, adding that it’s now an important part of the cybersecurity industry.  As a case in point, Adobe, among others, follows a similar patch cadence.

Patch Tuesday coverage has also long been a staple of Computerworld’s commitment to provide critical information to the IT industry. That’s why we’ve gathered together this collection of recent patches, a rolling list we’ll keep updated each month.

In case you missed a recent Patch Tuesday announcement, here are the latest six months of updates.

For March’s Patch Tuesday, 57 fixes — and 7 zero-days

For so few patches from Microsoft this month (57), we have seven zero-days to manage (with a “Patch Now” recommendation for Windows) and standard release schedules for Microsoft Office, Microsoft browsers (Edge) and Visual Studio.  Adobe is back with a critical update for Reader, too — but it’s not been paired (at least for now) with a Microsoft patch. More info on Microsoft Security updates for March 2025.

For February’s Patch Tuesday, Microsoft rolls out 63 updates

Microsoft released 63 patches for Windows, Microsoft Office, and developer platforms in this week’s Patch Tuesday update. The February release was a relatively light update, but it comes with significant testing requirements for networking and remote desktop environments. Two zero-day Windows patches (CVE-2025-21391 and CVE-2025-21418) have been reported as exploited and another Windows update (CVE-2025-21377) has been publicly disclosed — meaning IT admins get a “Patch Now” recommendation for this month’s Windows updates. More info on Microsoft Security updates for February 2025.

2025’s first Patch Tuesday: 159 patches, including several zero-day fixes

Microsoft began the new year with a hefty patch release for January, addressing eight zero-days with 159 patches for Windows, Microsoft Office and Visual Studio. Both Windows and Microsoft Office have “Patch Now” recommendations (with no browser or Exchange patches) for January. Microsoft also released a significant servicing stack update (SSU) that changes how desktop and server platforms are updated, requiring additional testing on how MSI Installer, MSIX and AppX packages are installed, updated, and uninstalled. More info on Microsoft Security updates for January 2025.

For December’s Patch Tuesday, 74 updates and a zero-day fix for Windows

Microsoft released 74 updates with this Patch Tuesday update, patching Windows, Office and Edge — but none for Microsoft Exchange Server or SQL server. One zero-day (CVE-2024-49138) affecting how Windows desktops handle error logs requires a “Patch Now” warning, but the Office, Visual Studio and Edge patches can be added to your standard release schedule. There are also several revisions this month that require attention before deployment. More info on Microsoft Security updates for December 2024.

November: This Patch Tuesday release includes 3 Windows zero-day fixes

Microsoft’s November Patch Tuesday update addresses 89 vulnerabilities in Windows, SQL Server, .NET and Microsoft Office — and three zero-day vulnerabilities in Windows that mean a patch now recommendation for Windows platforms. Unusually, there are a significant number of patch “re-releases” that might also require IT admin attention. More info on Microsoft Security updates for November 2024.

October: A haunting Patch Tuesday: 117 updates (and 5 zero-day flaws)

This month’s Patch Tuesday delivers a large set of patches from Microsoft that fix 117 flaws, including five zero-day vulnerabilities. Though there are patches affecting Windows, SQL Server, Microsoft Excel and Visual Studio, only the Windows updates require a “Patch Now” schedule — and they’ll need a significant amount of testing because they cover a lot of features: networking, kernel and core GDI components and Microsoft Hyper-V. Printing should be a core focus for enterprise testing and the SQL Server updates will require a focus on internally developed applications. More info on Microsoft Security updates for October 2024

For so few patches from Microsoft this month (57), we have seven zero-days to manage (with a “Patch Now” recommendation for Windows) and standard release schedules for Microsoft Office, Microsoft browsers (Edge) and Visual Studio. 

Adobe is back with a critical update for Reader, but it’s not been paired (at least for now) with a Microsoft patch.

To navigate what’s changed, the team from Readiness has crafted this useful infographic detailing the risks of deploying these updates to each platform. (And here’s a look at the last six months of Patch Tuesday releases.)

Known issues 

Microsoft is still dealing with reported gaming issues (Roblox) and has two new known issues for this release cycle, including:

• Windows 11: After installing the March update, USB-connected dual-mode printers supporting both USB Print and IPP Over USB may print random text, network commands, and unusual characters, often starting with “POST /ipp/print HTTP/1.1.” This issue can be mitigated using Known Issue Rollback (KIR).

• Windows 10: After installing Windows updates from Jan. 14, 2025 or later, the Windows Event Viewer might log an error related to SgrmBroker.exe as Event 7023, though this does not trigger any visible notifications. This error occurs because the System Guard Runtime Monitor Broker Service, originally part of Microsoft Defender and no longer in use, conflicts with the update during initialization. According to Microsoft, this reported issue does not impact system performance, functionality, or security, as the service is already disabled in other supported Windows versions.

Following previous reports of Citrix-related update issues, devices with Citrix Session Recording Agent (SRA) version 2411 could (still) be unable to complete the installation of the January 2025 Windows security update, causing the system to revert to previous updates after a restart. Affected devices might initially download and apply the update, but an error message stating “Something didn’t go as planned” appears during installation. This issue is expected to affect  only a limited number of organizations, as version 2411 of SRA is newly released, and home users are not affected. Don’t count on this issue being fixed soon, folks.

Major revisions and mitigations

Microsoft has not released or documented any mitigations or workarounds for the current set of updates. As of now, the following Chromium patches have been revised and re-released:

• CVE-2025-1920: Type Confusion in V8 (Chromium)
• CVE-2025-2135: Type Confusion in V8 (Chromium)
• CVE-2025-2136: Use After Free in Inspector (Chromium)
• CVE-2025-2137: Out of Bounds Read in V8 (Chromium)
• CVE-2025-24201: Out of Bounds Write in GPU on Mac (Chromium)

Windows lifecycle and enforcement updates

Microsoft is retiring several products this month:

• Microsoft SQL Server 2019, which ended mainstream support on Feb. 28. 
• Microsoft Skype, which will be terminated (with prejudice) in May.
• Windows Remote Desktop , which will be replaced next month with the Windows App. (Note: there are still some missing features and several known issues reported in this release.)

Over the next few weeks, several Microsoft products are scheduled to reach their end-of-life (EOL), and will no longer receive security updates, non-security updates, or technical support including:

• April 2, 2025: Dynamics 365 Business Central on-premises (2023 release wave 2, version 23.x).
• April 8, 2025: Dynamics GP 2015/Dynamics GP 2015 R2.
• April 9, 2025: Microsoft Configuration Manager, Version 2309.

Each month, the Readiness team analyzes the latest Patch Tuesday updates and provides detailed, actionable testing guidance based on a large application portfolio and a comprehensive analysis of the patches and their potential impact on Windows and application deployments.

For this release cycle, there are no reported functional changes. However, feature level testing will still be required, especially for system drivers and core libraries. Due to these low-level system (kernel) changes, a full reboot/restart test will be required for all Windows UI elements including Explorer, desktop shell and Internet Explorer.

We have grouped the critical updates and required testing efforts into different functional areas, including:

File System components

• Common Log File System: Test by creating a BLF and multiple container files, appending logs using `ReserveAndAppendLog,` and then deleting the containers.
• Core System drivers (ntfs.sys, exfat.sys & fastfat.sys): Test mounting, dismounting, and performing file operations on ExFAT volumes.

 Networking and remote services

• If using a Routing and Remote Access Service  (RRAS) server, test `netsh` scenarios to confirm commands work as expected.
• FAX: Validate TAPI initialization, shutdown, and key functions like `lineInitialize` and `lineMakeCall.` Stress test for stability and error handling.

 Storage and device interaction

• Focus on storage subsystem tests, including operations on virtual/physical disks and storage enclosures.
• Test how Search Connector files interact with various network paths (UNC, SMB, and file system paths).
• Validate all camera-related scenarios.

 Audio, video and UI components

• Verify audio/video recording with internal and external devices.
• Test apps like Teams and Camera that use virtual features (for example, Phone Link, Windows Studio Effects).

Affected Versions for this update cycle include the following Windows desktop and server builds:

• Windows 11 24H2, 23H2, 22H2, Windows 10 1607, Windows 10 RTM.
• Windows Server 23H2, Azure Stack OS 22H2, Windows Server 2022 

Each month, we break down the update cycle into product families (as defined by Microsoft) with the following basic groupings: 

• Browsers (Microsoft IE and Edge) 
• Microsoft Windows (both desktop and server) 
• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft Exchange and SQL Server 
• Microsoft Developer Tools (Visual Studio and .NET)
• Adobe (if you get this far) 

Browsers

Microsoft released 10 low-profile (no rating) updates to its Chromium-based Edge browser. These changes can be added to your standard release calendar.

Microsoft Windows

The following  Windows product areas have been updated with five critical patches and 32 others rated important for this month’s cycle:

• CVE-2025-24035: Windows Remote Desktop Services Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
• CVE-2025-24064: Windows Domain Name Service Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
• CVE-2025-24084: Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL2) Kernel Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
• CVE-2025-26645: Remote Desktop Client Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Unfortunately, three of these updates (CVE-2025-24984, CVE-2025-24984 and CVE-2025-24984) have been reported as exploited. Add these Windows updates to your “Patch Now” schedule.

Microsoft Office

Microsoft released a single critical update (CVE-2025-24057) and 10 patches rated important for the Office platform. All of the important updates affect Microsoft Word, Excel and Access with no reports of disclosures or exploitation. Add these Microsoft Office updates to your standard release calendar.

Microsoft Exchange and SQL Server

There were no updates for either Microsoft Exchange or SQL Server this March update cycle.

Developer tools

Microsoft released five patches, all rated important, that affect Microsoft Visual studio and ASP.NET. Add these updates to your standard developer release schedule.

Adobe (and third-party updates)

This month, Adobe released a security update (APSB25-14) for Acrobat and Reader for Windows and macOS that addresses six critical and three important vulnerabilities. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution and memory leak. Adobe is not aware of any exploits in the wild for any of the issues. For some reason this update was not included in this Microsoft patch cycle. Maybe that’s as it should be.

Popular AI services are not very good at locating the correct original source, according to a new study from Columbia Journalism Review’s Tow Center for Digital Journalism.

In the study, researchers selected 10 articles from 20 different publishers and then manually selected quotes from them to use in their queries. After each chatbot got the quotes, it was asked to identify the corresponding article’s title, original publisher, and publication date.

The researchers deliberately chose quotes that would give the correct original source if typed into the Google search engine.

In total, eight different AI chatbots were tested and, on average, they produced the wrong source 60% of the time. Perplexity performed best — and still got the citation wrong 37% of the time. The worst performer was Grok 3, which was wrong 94% of the time.

The researchers note that while most of the AI tools produced incorrect answers, they still presented them with great confidence. This was particularly true for paid versions of the AI chatbots. The researchers also found evidence that the AI chatbots’ web spiders often ignored publishers’ paywalls they were supposed to respect.