Category: Windows

The Windows Snipping Tool is a good screenshot tool that covers a lot of use cases already. While third-party screenshot tools, including PicPick or ShareX, are usually better, the Snipping Tool is sufficient for many Windows users.

Microsoft is testing a new feature integration in the Snipping Tool currently. It integrates Bing into the tool. More precisely, it adds an option to run a visual search for content displayed by the Snipping Tool.

To use it, you select Menu > Visual Search with Bing. This opens the Bing search results for the displayed content.

You can give it a try right away. Just visit Bing Images and select the “search using an image” option on the webpage.

Here, you may upload an image or select one of the sample images displayed by Visual Search.

The feature identifies objects and people. Multiple identified objects are selectable and the search results reflect the selection. It is also possible to highlight a specific part of an image to get related content and information about it.

This is the latest in a series of new features that Microsoft baked into the Snipping Tool. Recent additions include support for text recognition among other features.

Visual Search using Copilot

Windows Copilot may display information about the active image on the Windows system. You can upload any image to Copilot or allow Copilot to access Clipboard images.

You’d have to copy the image to the clipboard first, which many screenshot tools support.

The information that Copilot provides is limited, however, and it is not visual, but text-based.

Closing Words

Microsoft continues to integrate Bing, Copilot and AI into Windows and applications. The upcoming feature update for Windows 11 heralds the beginning of AI PCs, at least according to Microsoft.

Snipping Tool users who do not need the feature can safely ignore it. It can be useful to some Snipping Tools users, but a feature like it may work better on mobile devices.

What about you? Which screenshot tool do you prefer?

Back in April 2024, Microsoft changed the description of a Windows Start menu preference in an Insider build. It changed it from “show recommendations for tips, shortcuts, new apps, and more” to “Show recommendations for tips, shortcuts, new apps, ads, and more”.

The addition of three letters — ads — seemed to confirm Microsoft’s path of turning Windows into an advertising vessel.

Current Windows versions may show ads — Microsoft likes to call them promotions, recommendations, and tips — in various places already.

• Copilot — may return ads as part of its answers.
• File Explorer — may show notifications to use OneDrive for backup.
• Lock screen — may show ads when Windows Spotlight is enabled to show wallpapers.
• Notifications — may display suggestions and tips. These may also include promotions.
• Search — Windows 11 Search supports web results by default, which may be displayed as suggestions.
• Settings Home — displays Microsoft 365 and/or Game Pass subscription information and options.
• Start Menu — may show ads for apps under recommended.
• Start Menu — account profile icon may show a warning, if not signed-in with a Microsoft account, to sync data to OneDrive.
• Widgets — shows curated content from the Web, by default from MSN and other Microsoft services.

Did you know? There is a small tool to do away with most ads in Windows 11 (or a Reg file, if you prefer that).

With build 26212 comes the reversal

The release of build 26212 for Windows 11 changes the description again. This time, it reads: “Show recommendations for tips, app promotions, and more”.

The word ads is gone, and so is the word shortcuts. The term new apps has been replaced with app promotions. The latter indicates that Microsoft continues to hold on to the idea of promoting Microsoft Store apps in the Start Menu.

Ads on the other hand, appear off the table for now. Since this is a development build, there is still the chance that Microsoft is making changes to the description and functionality in the future.

Microsoft never revealed how ads would look like in the Start menu. Maybe it had plans to integrate them into the new Windows 11 Start menu sidebar feature that it started testing recently.

Closing Words

The reversal is a win for the Windows community, but it is likely not the last battle that needs to be fought in regards to ads in Windows.

Should Microsoft stop pushing ads in Windows 11?

Microsoft is working on bringing a duplicate tab feature to the File Explorer of its Windows 11 operating system.

The company rolled out tabs support in Windows 11’s File Explorer in 2022. The initial implementation lacked several features. Notably, support for dragging tabs and reopening closed ones was missing.

Updates introduced some of these features. You can now drag and drop tabs around to create new File Explorer instances or merge instances.

Soon, you will also be able to duplicate an open tab.

Windows 11 File Explorer: duplicate tab

Microsoft announced the option some time ago. It is now available in Beta insider builds of Windows 11.

To use it, all you have to do is right-click on any open tab and select the new duplicate tab option. This spawns a new tab in the same File Explorer instance that displays the same path as the source tab.

Microsoft writes:

We’re rolling out the ability to duplicate a tab by right-clicking on a tab in File Explorer.

When is this landing in stable? Microsoft does not say. A likely candidate is the Windows 22 2024 Update, which is expected in September / October of 2024.

Workaround to duplicate tabs

Here is a quick workaround to duplicate tabs right now. It has flaws and it is not as quick, but it should work in many cases.

The one requirement is that the source tab should have at least one folder listing.

1. Middle-click on the folder in the source tab. This opens the selected folder in a new tab in File Expxlorer.
2. Use the path to navigate back to the source folder by clicking on its name.

Closing Words

Duplicating tabs is just a small feature, but some Windows 11 users will certainly find it handy. I have to admit that I do not use tabs at all. I prefer to use two File Explorer instances whenever I need access to multiple folders, e.g., for copying files.

What about you? Do you use File Explorer tabs or use a third-party file manager with tabs support?

Microsoft released a new build to the Windows 11 Beta Insider Channel this week. One of the changes rolls out the new account manager of the Start Menu.

You may remember that Microsoft launched account related events already in the Start Menu of Windows 10 and 11. This feature advertises the benefits of using a Microsoft account to local users.

Users signed in with a Microsoft account get backup reminders. The backup feature uses Microsoft’s OneDrive feature.

Clearly, this feature is designed to drive Microsoft account conversions and also Microsoft 365 subscriptions. Backups require space and some users may need more than the free quota that Microsoft gives free Microsoft account users.

The new Windows 11 Start Menu account manager

Now comes the new Microsoft account manager. It replaces the current menu that opens when you click on the profile icon in the Start Menu.

Microsoft writes:

This update starts the roll out of the new account manager on Start menu. When you sign in with a Microsoft account, the new design gives you a quick glanceable view of your account benefits and makes it easy to manage account settings.

The new design displays information about the Microsoft account. In particular, it lists subscriptions and information about cloud storage.

There is also the obligatory reminder of “something” that the user needs to be aware of. It is possible that this is used for promotions, e.g., when a user is not subscribed to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or Microsoft 365 yet. The text shown reminds the user to create recovery keys.

Something is missing: Microsoft does not mention it in its announcement, but the sign-out and account switching buttons are nowhere to be seen.

A click on the profile icon of the Start Menu shows options to sign out, switch to another user account, lock the device, or open the account settings.

Here is a screenshot of how this looks in Windows 11 Stable:

Microsoft moved the options behind the three-dots menu, at least for users signed-in to a Microsoft account.

The problem: this adds another click to the sign out, locking, and user switching process. Some users may also have problems locating the options once the change lands.

Closing Words

Call me disillusioned, but all of these changes do not sound particularly useful. Subscription information is already in the Settings app. There you also get banners in the new Homepage, which offers little for users, but another advertising space for Microsoft.

This change is not the only one that is currently in testing. Microsoft is also testing promoting apps in the recommended section of the Windows start menu.

There is also talk about a new taskbar button, which might also be used for recommendations, whatever that means in that context.

Are these changes beneficial to customers who use Windows? Or do they help Microsoft sell more subscriptions and increase the revenue of the Windows division?

What do you think about these changes?

When it comes to wallpapers, there are different camps. Some prefer to handpick images for their desktops, others prefer automation, and a third group likes to display a solid color instead.

If you belong to the automation camp, you now have another ace up your sleeve. The most recent update for Windows 11, released yesterday on the April 2024 Patch Day, introduced Windows Spotlight support for the desktop background.

While it is not certain that every user who upgraded has it right now, as Microsoft loves to roll out changes gradually over long periods, it should be available to most users by now.

What is Windows Spotlight?

Windows Spotlight is a built-in feature that downloads and displays wallpapers. It has been available as a personalization option for Windows 11’s lock screen and for Windows 10’s lock screen and desktop background.

The images come from Microsoft’s Bing search engine. More precisely, from Bing’s image of the day feature.

Windows Spotlight displays information about images, which may include geographical information. Microsoft may also use Windows Spotlight for advertisement.

Downloaded images are stored on the computer for a period before they are deleted.

Configure Windows Spotlight for wallpapers in Windows 11

Configuring Windows Spotlight as the provider for wallpapers is straightforward. Make sure you check out the next section as well, as it reveals a way to use the images manually.

Here is the process:

1. Right-click on a blank spot on the desktop and select Personalize.
2. Activate the background menu on the page to open it.
3. Use the menu on the right of Personalize your background to select Windows spotlight.

Windows 11 displays the first Spotlight image immediately. These images change regularly.

Where are Spotlight images located?

Windows 11 downloads and stores Windows Spotlight images locally. You can copy them out of the temporary directory for safekeeping.

Here is how you do that:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Paste the following path C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState\Assets and replace USERNAME with the name of the current user, e.g., martin.
3. You find a list of images in the folder. These do not have a file extension associated with images.
4. Copy the files to another directory.
5. Rename them, so that the file extension is .jpg.
6. You can now open them in any image editor and set them as the wallpaper.

A faster option is to use the following commands in a command prompt window:

robocopy C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState\Assets c:\tempdir\wallpaper /mir

Replace [username] with the correct username. This copies all images to c:\tempdir\wallpaper by default. You can change the directory.

To make things even easier, run the following two commands:

1. cd c:\tempdir\wallpaper
2. ren *. *.jpg

The first changes the active directory, the second adds the .jpg file extension to all files. (thanks)

Run this regularly to save all spotlight images.

Closing Words

It comes down to personal taste for the most part. I prefer a solid color background over Windows Spotlight for a number of reasons, but the main one is that I find them distracting.

What about you? Do you like the variety of images that Windows Spotlight offers?

Microsoft’s upcoming Windows 11 version 24H2 release will block certain tweaking apps from running or making modifications to the system.

When you look at Windows development of the past ten years, you may notice a trend: certain options get removed without proper alternative. The release of Windows 11 is a prime example. Suddenly, users could no longer display the taskbar on the right or left side of the screen.

Tools like StartAllBack or Explorer Patcher were created to address these shortcomings. They used hacks and undocumented APIs at times to restore functionality or even top what Microsoft offered in previous Windows versions.

Now it seems that this period is slowly coming to an end. The signs were on the wall for some time. Microsoft blocked updates on systems, if certain software was installed on them.

Microsoft does have a valid argument: some of these programs did in fact cause issues in the past. In July 2023 for instance, users noticed that the Start Menu was broken after installation of the latest cumulative update.

This was caused by third-party customization apps according to Microsoft. The company put the “won’t fix” tag on the issue and left users more or less stranded.

Removal of the programs resolved the issue, but many liked what the tools brought to the table. Explorer Patcher, for instance, removed the “recommended” section from the Windows 11 Start Menu entirely. It filled it with apps of the user.

While Microsoft added an option to hide all recommendations, it never implemented an option to use the space of the recommended section for user apps.

These programs block the installation of Windows 11 24H2

Microsoft is blocking the installation of Windows 11 version 24H2 or the update to the new feature update, if certain tweaking software is installed on the system.

Our colleagues over at Deskmodder published the entire list. The two tweaking programs on it are StartAllBack and Explorer Patcher.

There is a lengthy workaround, which involves deleting the app, updating the system, renaming the application’s name, and then running the application.

It is possible that this workaround will work for a while, but there is a good chance that it is blocked eventually as well.

No quick changing of default apps or file extensions anymore

Microsoft implemented a new filter driver in Windows 10 and 11 that prevent the changing of default apps or file extension associations using the Registry.

This breaks tools like SetUserFTA, that allow users to modify these settings comfortably. These tools are even more important to administrators, provided that they need to modify system defaults.

You can check out my article on the userChoice Protection Driver for a detailed overview. Only this much: the filter prevents modification of userChoice Registry settings. These hold the keys to the default apps and file associations.

All programs could manipulate the keys previously. Now, Microsoft is limiting changes to its own programs only. Programs that do not meet the requirements get an access denied error and that is it. Microsoft is also blocking common Windows tools used to change Registry keys.

In other words, only Microsoft programs that are not on a deny list may change the keys. If that is not an unfair advantage over other programs, what is?

Do you customize your systems? Have you used some of the tools that Microsoft is now outlawing?

Yesterday, Microsoft announced the price that organizations have to pay to extend Windows 10 support after October 2025. What Microsoft did not say was how much consumers will have to pay to keep their Windows 10 systems supported.

The Windows 10 operating system will reach end of support in October 2025. This means, that Microsoft won’t release security updates or any other form of update for the operating system after end of support.

There is a way out though. Extended Security Updates allow organizations and home users to continue using a patched system. Microsoft established ESU when its Windows 7 operating system ran out of support in 2020. Organizations could extend support by up to three years through extra payments.

To extend Windows 7 support, they had to pay $50, $100, and $200 in the first, second, and third year. Consumers were ignored back then, as Microsoft did not make an Extended Security Updates offer.

Windows 10: extended security updates

Microsoft announced that Windows 10 would also get Extended Security Updates. Unlike Windows 8, which ran out in 2023 and did not receive any, Windows 10 is widely used.

It is the most used Windows operating system today and hundreds of millions of users will still use it in the second half of 2025.

Extended Security Updates are available for organizations and consumers this time.

Microsoft announced the price that organizations have to pay yesterday. The company bumped the price significantly to $61, $122, and $244 respectively. Summed up, it means that organizations have to pay $427 to extend Windows 10 for three years for a single machine.

Other options are available, but they depend on the use of update management systems or Microsoft 365.

And consumers?

No information was provided. Price and conditions are unclear. Microsoft provided the following comment:

Final pricing and enrolment conditions will be made available closer to the October 2025 date for end of support.

It is almost certain that Microsoft knows the conditions and set the price for extended security updates for consumer machines already.

Keeping customers in the dark may give Windows 11 a push. Most Windows 10 customers are probably unaware of ESU and that the option will become available in 2025.

These may update their machines to Windows 11, if compatible, or even buy a new PC with Windows 11 as a consequence.

If Microsoft would tell them now that they could extend support for their current machine by up to three years, for this much, it would certainly slow down Windows 11 adoption further.

Consumer pricing is a wildcard. Clearly, Microsoft won’t charge consumers more than it charges organizations. Apart from that, anything is possible. From doubling the price each year or a fixed sum per year, to linking ESU to a Microsoft 365 subscription.

Would you pay for extended security updates for Windows 10? If so, what is your limit?

When Microsoft released Windows 10 in 2015, it introduced the new Settings app. Back then, Microsoft said that the app would replace the ancient Control Panel in the future.

And so it began. The initial version of Settings lacked many options that the Control Panel offered. Users and administrators had to juggle between the two to configure Windows.

While Microsoft moved some sections to the Settings app in the years that followed, the Control Panel is still going strong in 2024.

Take the “uninstall a program” option in the Control Panel. It is far superior to the “all apps” section of the Settings app. It features a table that lists more information and is fully sortable. It offers eight different views: five more than what the Settings app offers.

The Control Panel offers 38 different configuration options in the latest version of Windows 11. If Microsoft continues the snail-like pace, it may take very well until 2035 and Windows 15 before everything has been moved over.

The juggling between Control Panel and Settings app is just one of the issues that users may experience.

Is there any order in the Settings app?

The Settings app displays categories in a sidebar on the left. The main pane lists the configuration pages of the active category.

The order seems random in both panes. The sidebar begins with Home, System, and Bluetooth & devices. Apps is found after Personalization, and Windows Update at the very end. Maybe it is the most popular options that you find nearer to the top, but is Bluetooth & devices really more popular than Personalization?

Similarly, when you open a category, you get an unordered list of pages. System lists Display, Sound, and Notifications at the top.

Apart from that, you may also sometimes have trouble finding something. All Start and taskbar settings are found under Personalization, but when you want to enable scroll bars for all windows, you have to visit Accessibility to do that. There, you also find the option to change the mouse pointer or text size.

Nearby sharing is found under System, even though it might fit better under Network & Internet, or Bluetooth & devices.

A search is provided, which is helpful, provided that you know the name of the setting. Type “mouse”, and you get every setting related to the term.

Microsoft could introduce sorting options or favorites to improve accessibility.

All Settings is awol

The Settings app offers no list of all settings that it contains. It would be useful to get a full list, especially if it could be sorted by name.

Unless you really know the Settings app, it may simply take too long to find something. Search is useful to a degree, but if your search term is too broad, you get lots of results.

Closing Words

It is time for Windows to get a central location for settings. The current state of the Settings app is lacking, especially when it comes to finding a specific page.

What is your take on the Settings app? Do you still use the Control Panel?