Category: Windows

How to bring order to Google Photos Takeout exports automatically

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

Google Photos Takeout is a straightforward option to export all Google Photos to a local computer system. It is an excellent option to create a local backup of all photos uploaded to Google Photos or moving to a different provider.

A big problem with the takeout is that the photos are stored in multiple zip files, often hundreds of them. The number of folders depends largely on activity and time. Each zip file contains photos and a JSON file.

While it is possible to extract individual folders or all at once, doing so still leaves the photos in a disorganized state.

Google Photos Takeout Helper

Google Photos Takeout

The open source application comes to the rescue. All it takes is to point the app to a downloaded Google Photos takeout folder for it to do its magic. The application extracts all zip archives, sets timestamps correctly and will put all photos in a single folder or in monthly folders.

You need to download the photos from Google Takeout in the first step. This is done by visiting the Google Takeout site, signing-in, activating “deselect all” at the top to uncheck all export options, and checking the box next to Google Photos on the page.

Select “Next step” to continue and keep all other settings. Activate “create export” and wait for Google to inform you with an email that your download is ready.

A click on each of the download links opens the download page. You may need to authenticate yourself again before the download starts.

Extract all Zip archives. You may need to move them into a single root folder first, if there is more than one archive. The easiest way to do so is to copy all additional Google Photos folder into the first folder, so that all folders are under the same structure (Takeout\Google Photos).

Once all photos have been downloaded and all archives extracted, it is time to switch to Google Photos Takeout Helper.

Using the Helper app

Yearly folders for all photos exported from Google

First step is to download the application from the project’s GitHub repository. Visit it with a click on this link. The app is available for Windows, macOS and Linux. I downloaded the Windows version for this guide.

Run the downloaded file once it is on the local system. Note that you may get a “Windows protected your PC” prompt. This is thrown by SmartScreen, a security feature. The app is not dangerous, but SmartScreen does step in if an app is new or unrecognized by it.

Select “more info” and then “run anyway” to continue. A command prompt window opens with instructions. Press the Enter-key and use the folder browser that opens to pick the Takeout folder.

Once done, press Enter again to select the output folder. This is the folder that all sorted photos are put into.

All photos may be put into a single folder or sorted into year/month folders. Press 1 or 2 to make the selection.

Select what Google Photos Takeout Helper should do with albums in the final step:

  • 0 Shortcut — links album folders to original photos.
  • 1 Duplicate-Copy — puts photos into album folders as well.
  • 2 JSON – puts all photos into a single folder and creates a json file with album information.
  • 3 Nothing — ignore albums, which will ignore archive and trash photos altogether.

If the target folder is not empty, you need to select (1) to delete all files inside, (2) to place photos next to existing files or (3) exit the process.

The process may take a moment to complete. Press the Enter-key to finish the process and close the program window.

Once closed, open the target folder. You should see a folder structure based on your selections. Check the ALL_PHOTOS folder to access them all.

Closing Words

Google Photos Takeout Helper is a useful open source tool to quickly sort all exported photos. While not needed per-se, it may save users lots of time.

windows copilot

How to disable Windows Copilot on Windows 11

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

The following guide offers step-by-step instructions on how to disable Windows Copilot.

In less than two weeks, many Windows 11 users will gain access to Windows Copilot. Microsoft included the new AI-powered assistant in an optional update released in September 2023 already.

On October 10, 2023, Windows 11 users who upgrade their devices to the latest version, will receive Windows Copilot among other changes, courtesy of the fourth Moment update for the operating system.

What is Windows Copilot?

windows copilot

Microsoft describes Windows Copilot in the following way:

Copilot in Windows is an AI-powered intelligent assistant that helps you get answers and inspirations across the web, supports creativity and collaboration, and helps you focus on the tasks at hand.

Windows users may interact with Copilot directly from the Windows desktop. A click on the Copilot icon on the taskbar or pressing Windows-C opens the interface on the right side of the screen.

It looks very much like Bing Chat on first glance. Copilot includes Bing Chat functionality and other AI components.

Users interact with Windows Copilot by voice, text or by sending images, similarly to how interactions with other AI-powered tools happen.

One of Copilot’s greatest strengths is the ability to help users directly in Windows. The functionality is very limited at this stage, but you can use Copilot to turn on dark made, capture a screenshot of any desktop, or snap open windows.

What Copilot can’t do in its current stage is terminate processes, check Windows Defender logs and return research on found threats, or help users troubleshoot issues that they experience. All of this may come at a later stage, but Microsoft is tight-lipped about the functionality.

Privacy and Windows Copilot

Windows Copilot requires an active Internet connection and the tool breaks down when there is none.

Copilot needs to communicate with Microsoft servers. Anything typed, pasted or said is known to Microsoft as a consequence. This is not Microsoft-specific, tools like Google Bard or Claude AI do require Internet connectivity as well.

Windows Copilot is not active by default; this is unlike classic assistants, such as Alexa, which are programmed to listen to commands.

Still, some users may prefer to disable Windows Copilot entirely. There is no option to remove Windows Copilot, even though many tutorials sites suggest that there is an easy way to do so.

A click on Private Statement in the Copilot menu opens the general Microsoft Privacy Statement. Copilot is not mentioned once in the statement.

How to disable Windows Copilot

Windows 11 users have several options when it comes to turning off Windows Copilot on their devices.

Individual users may remove its icon from the Windows taskbar, but that does not shut down Windows Copilot, as it may still be launched using the keyboard shortcut.

Note that there is no option to remove Windows Copilot entirely from the system, without affecting other features. It is not listed under installed Apps.

Removing the Windows Copilot icon from the Windows taskbar

Still, it may be sufficient for some users. Here is how that is done:

  1. Right-click on a blank location on the taskbar and select Taskbar Settings from the menu that opens.
  2. Locate Copilot (preview) or Windows Copilot there and toggle it to Off.

The icon is removed immediately. Toggling the feature to the On state restores it again.

Disable Windows Copilot in the Group Policy Editor

The Group Policy Editor is not available in Windows 11 Home. Home administrators may make the change in the Windows Registry, which is explained in the next section.

Here is how you disable Windows Copilot in the Group Policy Editor:

  1. Use the keyboard shortcut Windows-R to open the Run box.
  2. Type gpedit.msc and press the Enter-key.
  3. Use the folder structure on the left to follow this path: User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Copilot.
  4. Double-click on Turn off Windows Copilot.
  5. Set the value from “Not Configured” to “Enabled.
  6. Click OK.
  7. Close the Group Policy Editor.
  8. Restart the PC.

Disable Windows Copilot in the Registry

The very same changes may also be applied to the Windows Registry directly. Here is how that is done:

  1. Use the keyboard shortcut Windows-R to open the Run box.
  2. Type regedit.exe and press the Enter-key.
  3. Confirm the security prompt.
  4. Use the folder structure on the left to navigate the following path: Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsCopilot
    • Note: if a key does not exist, right-click on the previous one and select New > Key. Name it accordingly to create the entire path.
  5. Right-click on WindowsCopilot and select New > Dword (32-bit) Value.
  6. Name it TurnOffWindowsCopilot.
  7. Double-click on the newly created Dword and change its value to 1.
  8. Close the Registry Editor.
  9. Restart the PC.

Closing Words

The Group Policy Editor and Registry Editor tweaks disable Windows Copilot on the operating system. The icon is removed in the process, the user can’t toggle the icon in Settings anymore, and the keyboard shortcut Windows-C does not work either anymore.

Cloud Content Search: disable it in Windows 11

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

Microsoft’s Windows 11 operating system runs local and remote searches when users use the search functionality. A relative recent addition is the ability to find cloud files. Windows Search may return content from OneDrive, Outlook and other Microsoft services alongside local results.

Some Windows users may find cloud search functionality useful, especially if they use OneDrive or Outlook. Others may want to disable the feature, as they may have no need for it or are concerned about privacy.

The operating system’s search uses connected Microsoft, work or school accounts, automatically when users sign-in with those.

Windows 11 users may connect personal or school/work accounts independently of that in the Settings:

  1. Select Start and select Settings, or use the keyboard shortcut Windows-I to open Settings.
  2. Go to Accounts > Email & accounts.
  3. Locate “Accounts used by other apps”.
  4. Select “Add a Microsoft account” to add a personal account.
  5. Select “Add a work or school account” to add an organizational account.

You are asked to provide the username and password for the account to add it.

Here is what happens when Cloud Content Search is enabled

Users who use a personal Microsoft account will see items from OneDrive, Outlook and other Microsoft services in Windows Search. A search for a filename may, for example, return files found on OneDrive.

Additionally, results will be personalized when searching the web or getting web search suggestions in Windows Search. Bing searches in the Windows search box will earn users Microsoft Rewards points.

Work or school accounts connected to Windows 11 may see organizational content returned in Windows searches. This may include content from OneDrive for Business, Outlook, SharePoint and other Microsoft services.

Disabling cloud-based searches in Windows

Cloud Content Search settings in Windows 11

Windows 11 includes options to disable cloud content search functionality. The functionality is enabled by default and users need to become active to turn it off.

The following guide provides step by step instructions on disabling cloud content search in Windows.

  1. Open Start and select Settings, or use the shortcut Windows-I to open Settings.
  2. Select Privacy & Security from the sidebar on the left.
  3. Click on Search permissions.
  4. Two Cloud Content Search options are available:
    • Microsoft account — handles personal account content.
    • Work or School account — for users signed-in with these types of accounts.
  5. Toggle one or both of the options to the Off state.

Windows 11 won’t pull data from remote Microsoft services, such as OneDrive, Bing or Outlook anymore, when turned off.

Windows 10 also includes options to turn off the feature. Here is how that is done on Windows 10 devices:

  1. Select Start and then Settings to open the Settings application.
  2. Select Search from the available categories in the Settings app.
  3. Find Cloud content search.
  4. Toggle Microsoft account and/or Work or School account to Off to disable the feature.

Turning off cloud searches with the Group Policy Editor

Administrators may use the Group Policy Editor to turn off Cloud Content Search for all users of the operating system.

Note: The Group Policy Editor is only available in professional and enterprise / education editions of Windows 11. Windows 11 Home systems need to make the change in the Registry; this is explained further down below.

  1. Use the keyboard shortcut Windows-R to open the run box.
  2. Type gpedit.msc and press the Enter-key to start the Group Policy Editor.
  3. Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Search.
  4. Locate Allow Cloud Search on the right-side and double-click on the policy.
  5. Change the state from “Not Configured” to “Enabled.
  6. Use the menu under Options to select “Disable Cloud Search” to turn it off.
  7. Select OK to apply the change.
  8. Close the Group Policy Editor.
  9. Restart the PC.

Disabling Cloud Search in the Registry

Home edition users need to make the change in the Registry directly. It applies the same policy.

  1. Open the Start Menu, type regedit.exe and press the Enter-key to launch the Registry Editor.
  2. Confirm the security prompt that Windows displays.
  3. Use the hierarchical structure on the left to go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Policies > Microsoft > Windows > Windows Search
    • If one of the keys is not available, right-click on the previous key and select New > Key. Name it accordingly to create the path.
  4. Search for the Dword AllowCloudSearch on the right side.
    • If it is not there, right-click on Windows Search and select New > Dword (32-bit) Value.
    • Name it AllowCloudSearch.
  5. Double-click on AllowCloudSearch.
  6. Set its value to 0 to turn off Cloud Search for all users.

After 7 years, Microsoft ends free Windows 7 and 8 upgrades to Windows 10 and 11

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

When Microsoft released the initial version of Windows 10 in 2015 it allowed users to upgrade from Windows 7 and 8 devices to the operating system for free.

Windows 7 and 8 product keys carried over during setup. Upgrades to Windows 10 accepted the key as well.

Microsoft did end the free upgrade option officially in 2016 but the company never made the change on the backend; this meant, that customers could still use their Windows 7 or 8 product keys to install Windows 10 or upgrade to the system without running into licensing issues.

The release of Windows 11 in 2021 did not change that. Customers could use their Windows 7 or 8 product keys to install Windows 11 and activate the operating system. Similarly, those with compatible systems, could also upgrade to Windows 11 from these older versions of Windows.

Microsoft ended support for Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 in January 2023. The end of servicing did not affect the ability to use the product keys of these older versions of Windows to install Windows 10 or 11, or to upgrade to these systems.

The free upgrade ride ends

The situation changed this week. German site Deskmodder was the first to report about the change. Microsoft published new information on its Device Partner Center website that confirms that the company has stopped the free upgrade path.

Microsoft writes:

Microsoft’s free upgrade offer for Windows 10 / 11 ended July 29, 2016. The installation path to obtain the Windows 7 / 8 free upgrade is now removed as well. Upgrades to Windows 11 from Windows 10 are still free.

In other words: Windows 7 and 8 systems upgrades to Windows 10 or 11 are still permitted and not blocked. Product keys of these older systems may not be accepted, however.

Windows users need to purchase a new product key for Windows 10 or 11 to activate the operating systems in this case.

Neowin ran a quick test and discovered that the product keys could be used to activate Windows 11 version 22H2 or earlier, but not newer versions of Windows 11 anymore. The situation is likely similar on Windows 10.

Affected users might try and upgrade their devices to these earlier versions of Windows 10 or 11, as it still seems to work at the time of writing. Microsoft could end this option at any time in the future though.

Microsoft notes that upgrades from Windows 10 to 11 continue to remain free. It is likely that the company will change this after Windows 10 reaches end of servicing in October 2025.

Buying a Windows 10 or 11 license

Microsoft charges $139 for Windows 11 Home and $199 for Windows 11 Professional on its Store. Windows 10 is no longer sold there.

Retail stores may offer licenses for cheaper, but usually not by much. Another option is to buy product keys from key resellers. Keys cost around $20 when bought from these.

You can check out eBay and other marketplaces. Key reselling may not be allowed in all regions and markets though.

Checking the activation status

Multiple options exist to check the activation status of a Windows device. One of the easiest options is the following one:

  1. Use the keyboard shortcut Windows+R to open the Run box.
  2. Type slmgr.vbs –xpr.
  3. Activate the Enter-key on the keyboard.

Windows returns the activation status in a small popup window. You may also run this command from Terminal or Command Prompt windows.