Windows Latest spotted this change on the official Roadmap page for Microsoft 365. It lists a new developmental feature called the “None” color category for Mail and Calendar in the New Outlook for Windows and Web.

This option will help you create and use a category without color. We like this idea, as having tens of color categories can get confusing to view and use. The rollout will start in December 2024, and we won’t see it in the stable version of the app until 2025.

The above image is the screenshot of the existing “Categorize” feature in the new Outlook. The “None” option, which would force Outlook to use one colour, is currently missing. It was available in the retired Mail & Calendar app.

Thankfully, it’s making a return in the next update.

Email as an attachment in Outlook for mobile

Windows Latest spotted another feature listed on the Roadmap page for Outlook.

Until now, you could add an email as an attachment in Outlook and Outlook web app while sending a new mail. The same functionality will now arrive on the iOS and Android app for Outlook in the coming months.

This feature’s rollout also begins in December 2024, which will help you share complete email as an attachment to a contact.

If you don’t know how to send an email as an attachment on the Outlook web app, simply open a mail and click the ellipses icon next to the Forward button.

Select Other reply actions > Forward as attachment option. After that, enter the receiver’s email and other details and hit Send.

If you aren’t using the new Outlook app on Windows, Microsoft has a detailed document describing its “great” features and how it is better than the old Mail and calendar app. Also, the end of the Mail & calendar is near.

Mail & calendar will retire in 2024

December 31, 2024, marks the end of the Mail and Calendar app we had become accustomed to.

Microsoft implemented forced migration and complicated the use of the old app. The new Outlook has several shortcomings but Microsoft assures it will fix them soon and add new features.

Like us, many users hate Microsoft’s idea of shoveling a new web wrapper into Windows 11. If you use Mail and Calendar, migrate your data to the new app as soon as possible. It will switch to read-only mode starting January 1, 2025.

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When you press the Win + Z key to open Snap Layouts, you see multiple layout suggestions. But there is no label to describe its purpose. In the latest Beta build 22635.4510 (KB5046716), Microsoft is trying new label ideas for the feature.

As noticed by Phantomofearth and confirmed by Windows Latest, this hidden change is available with KB5046716 and Microsoft is experimenting with hidden label ideas. Windows Latest was able to test the feature, and we can confirm that Microsoft has four label ideas for the snap assist flyout:

• Choose where to move this window
• Choose where to arrange this window
• Choose where to snap this window
• Choose an app layout for your screen

Windows Latest force turned on the feature and we tested all the variants one by one.

As shown in the screenshot gallery below, the label appears above the layout suggestions and mentions the keyboard shortcut to use the feature. It’s not a monumental change, but we like it because it clarifies the intent.

Snap layouts labels

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Previously, Microsoft improved the suggestions for the snap layout, which now displays the open app icons inside them. So it’s easy to understand which app will open in a specific part of the layout.

File Explorer also included labels for commonly used actions like copy, paste, delete, etc, making it clear that labels cannot be ignored.

Other improvements in Beta build 22635.4510

After adding share support to the Start menu, you can directly share files from the Taskbar jump lists. Whenever you right-click on any icon on the Taskbar, you’ll see a share icon alongside a file. E.g., the screenshot below shows the option to share a previously opened file in the Notepad app jump list.

Other feature upgrades include a new gamepad layout for the on-screen keyboard. After selecting it, you can use your Xbox controller to navigate and type quickly.

There are some new Narrator improvements to skip past links in a text document and directly go to any included list or table of contents section.

Microsoft is also experimenting with small taskbar for Windows 11 and we understand that the bigger changes will begin rolling out to everyone early next year. Some of the new features are planned for the November 2024 optional update.

The post Windows 11 KB5046716 experiments with new Snap Layouts features appeared first on Windows Latest

According to a support document seen by Windows Latest, Microsoft has given some reasons justifying what makes new Outlook better than Mail & Calendar apps.

It starts by describing how the new Outlook is supercharged with AI features that can help you write emails with a few prompts (as if writing emails is a surmounting task for those who do it daily). We don’t see it as a huge selling point, and the option to remind you to follow up on important conversations isn’t something you cannot live without.

Other “great” features include accessing all the emails in one place. The rest are gibberish features promoting Microsoft 365, and some mention the security features built into the app.

A few months back, there was a comparison table for Outlook web, Outlook, and Mail & calendar. I can’t find that now. There’s only a new table with the Outlook web and Outlook.

Why do users hate the new Outlook app?

Microsoft introduced the new app as subtle hints, followed by ads and forcibly migrating users to the new Outlook. It didn’t let anyone decide to stay on the Mail & Calendar app and wanted everyone to like the new app.

If you ask us, we’re happy about the new UI and a few features, but converting the app into a web wrapper is an added burden.

Another pain point is the lack of some features that Microsoft plans to add slowly in the future. Still, the ads are the biggest pain point of the new web Outlook.

The UWP Mail and calendar didn’t have ads, and Microsoft will change that with the new Outlook. We previously reported that the weather app is getting more ads, and Outlook is no exception.

Microsoft isn’t satisfied with making money only through OS licenses and loves to burden its users with app ads. However, there’s no choice for you, and you must migrate to the new app and move your data before the end of the support date.

From January 1, 2025, Mail & calendar will function and only serve as an old mail opening tool. It won’t be able to send or receive new mail.

The post Microsoft explains why Windows 11’s new Outlook is better than Mail & Calendar appeared first on Windows Latest

KB5046613 is a mandatory November 2024 Patch Tuesday update. The main highlight of this update is the new Account Manager in the Start menu that lets you check the currently active account, some key Microsoft service stats, and promotional stuff. We aren’t fans of the promotional stuff, but that’s just Microsoft putting in too much effort.

As shown in the above screenshot, Windows Latest observed that Windows 10’s Start menu now has the same Microsoft account manager integration available in Windows 11. It’ll likely get better in an upcoming release, but it’s here to stay and you cannot remove it.

The rest of the changes are just fixes for the existing problems with Windows 10. One of the major fixes is for the Windows 11 upgrade issue. When a Windows 10 user tried to upgrade to Windows 11, the PC crashed with a BSOD error, but this has now been fixed.

If you check for updates today, you’ll see “2024-11 Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 22H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5046613).”

Download Links for Windows 10 KB5046613

Windows 10 KB5046613 Direct Download Links: 64-bit and 32-bit (x86).

If you don’t get the update or it fails to install, use the above offline installer file to install the November 2024 security update. It will advance your PC to Windows 10 Build 19045.5131.

What’s new in Windows 10 Build 19045.5131

Microsoft has fixed an issue where some games stopped responding after Windows 10 KB5044384. According to the company, a bug in a recent update caused DRM-based games to crash. This was due to a change made in the previous update, which is being reverted with today’s patch.

Due to a bug in Windows 10, some multifunction printers worked incorrectly and would print the command string without any request from the user. Even drivers failed to install while connecting to a multifunction printer via a USB cable.

This issue was present in Windows 11 as well and is now patched in both operating systems.

Here are the other noteworthy upgrades added in Windows 10 22H2 build 1904x.5131:

• There’s a new product activation phone number that works in multiple regions.
• Microsoft has fixed an issue where Vmswitch produced a stop error while managing and switching between two virtual machines.
• A bug has been fixed where WebView2 apps couldn’t recognize the device when you connected an Xbox 360 or any other Bluetooth controller.
• Some system apps like Windows Narrator failed to start for non-admin user profiles. This has been fixed.
• Azure Virtual Desktop users faced a black screen issue after logging in and couldn’t sign in to office apps. Microsoft has also patched it.

All these features and improvements will become available after you install the Windows 10 KB5046613 update.

According to the release notes, Microsoft is still aware of an issue where some apps could fail to open. This issue affects apps such as Teams, Narrator and even Quick Assist.

Microsoft confirmed it has already started rolling out a fix for the issue, which will be automatically delivered via a server-side update.

The post Windows 10 KB5046613 adds Microsoft account manager (direct download .msu) appeared first on Windows Latest

KB5046633 is a mandatory security update and as is the case with Patch Tuesday updates, you get all the improvements that were a part of the last month’s optional update. Two features stand out among the long list of improvements, the ability to ditch the Copilot key and a slight change for the Start menu.

If you have a Windows 11 PC with a physical Copilot key, you can map it to another shortcut. We spotted it in a preview build a few months back, and the change is finally here in 23H2. Simply put, you can set it to launch any app of your choice or open the Windows search. The latter is useless because you can easily search for anything in the Start menu.

Adding an extra Copilot key was unnecessary, but it served Microsoft’s Copilot branding and is now useless because we have a vacant shortcut for Cortana. To change the key behavior, go to Personalization > Text input > Customize Copilot key on the keyboard option and pick either Custom or Search option from the list.

For now, the setting appears on Windows 11 PC without a Copilot key. Tweaking it doesn’t have an impact because the PC doesn’t have a physical key.

This November security update changes the naming of the All Apps section to All. We don’t like the change because it’s more confusing. Also, we are still waiting for the Grid and Category layouts for the Start menu.

Download Links for Windows 11 KB5046633

Windows 11 KB5046633 Direct Download Links: 64-bit and ARM | Microsoft Update Catalog.

Since Windows 11 KB5046633 is a mandatory security update, it’ll automatically install on your 23H2 PC. If the update fails to install or isn’t available, you can use the above direct download link to update your PC manually.

What’s new in Windows 11 Build 22631.4460

KB5046633 will bump up your PC’s build to Windows 11 Build 22631.4460. There are some improvements that are a part of the gradual rollout phase and will arrive a little late on your PC.

It includes a new Narrator shortcut key to help you copy its speech to the clipboard. Press the Narrator key + Ctrl + X combination to use the copy feature. Moreover, you can read emails in the new Outlook app, which wasn’t possible before.

This update patches a Microsoft Teams bug that stopped you from joining a meeting via Outlook reminders. It also fixes a Modern Standby bug that dranied more battery instead of conserving it.

Here’s a list of some problems patched in Windows 11 KB5046633:

• The “I forgot my PIN” option didn’t work in Windows Hello mode.
• The Xbox 360 and Bluetooth controller weren’t detected in the webview2 apps.
• Bluetooth apps stopped working due to memory leaks.
• Using vmswitch in a virtual machine triggered BSODs.

While the Patch Tuesday updates aim to fix bugs, they often introduce new ones, like the dual-boot bug for Linux. We’ll keep testing the build for any new troubles.

The post Windows 11 KB5046633 23H2 out with features (direct download .msu) links appeared first on Windows Latest

The company later rebranded the feature to “Image Creator” and reserved the Cocreator feature for Copilot+ PCs. Now, it is testing Generative Erase and Fill features in the Insider channel.

The names are self-explanatory. Generative Fill uses AI models to add elements to the existing image. So, you can select an image area and enter a simple prompt like “add a cat,” and it’ll do that for you.

Similarly, the Generative Erase detects the highlighted area, wipes it, and blends it with the background colors, like there wasn’t anything there.

There isn’t any submenu for Generative Fill and Erase. These options appear after selecting the image area with the selection tool.

We installed the latest version of Paint that contains both these features, aka version 11.2410.28.0, but remember the new experience is only for Windows 11 Canary and Dev Insiders. Generative Fill is only available and works on Copilot+ Insider PCs, while the Erase feature works on every machinein the Insider Program.

Generative Fill and Erase AI features in MS Paint

Due to the lack of a Copilot+ PC, we could only test the Generative Erase feature on our AMD hardware. We were happy with the overall performance as it didn’t struggle much while removing an object from the image.

The feature works without the internet, so you don’t have to worry about exhausting daily credits like the Image Cocreator feature. Generative Fill must also work on the same idea because Copilot+ PC has local AI models that can create AI images quickly.

Note that the Erase feature isn’t something new. The Photos app has had it for quite some time, and the feature underwent multiple name rebrandings before Microsoft settled on “Generative Erase.”

We like this approach as the name is less confusing, and having similar names for identical features is helpful for end users.

How to use Paint AI’s Generative Fill and Erase features in Windows 11

As mentioned above, the selection tool is the entry point to invoke both these features. Click on the Selection Tool and choose the “Rectangle” or “Free-form” option. Then, drag the cursor to select a portion of the image.

You’ll see the “Fill” and “Erase” icons along with the “Background Remover” icon. Click on the Fill icon and describe the element you want to add to the image. Then, click the Create button to generate the image with locally stored AI models.

If you’re satisfied, click on the Keep option to finalize the image. Otherwise, click the retry icon to generate the image again and experiment with designs.

Next, we tried the Generative Erase option, which doesn’t need a Copilot+ PC to work. We selected a portion of the image and clicked on the Erase icon. It worked its AI magic and removed the Insider build watermark in the image with the background.

You can also use it with the Eraser tool. Select the Eraser tool from the menu bar, and you’ll see the same Erase icon on the left side.

Drag the slider to adjust the brush size and then drag it to highlight the area. It’ll automatically wipe and blend the image. Hit Apply to finalize the changes.

When will both these features arrive?

Generative Fill will undergo more tests in the Insider channel before it arrives in the stable version. Initially, it will be limited to Copilot+ Snapdragon PCs, but Microsoft plans to bring it to more AI PCs from Intel and AMD.

You don’t really need to wait for Generative Erase, as it’s already available in the Windows Photos app since Windows 11 23H2.

The Paint version won’t be coming soon, so use the Photos app if you have something urgent to remove from a photo.

The post Hands-on: AI-powered Generative Erase feature in Windows 11 Paint app appeared first on Windows Latest

While the Alt + Tab feature doesn’t stop working, the black screen stays for a good 10 seconds. This delay is unacceptable, especially when you want to switch to another app quickly.

In addition to our tests, a quick search about the problem reveals multiple open community posts and Reddit threads discussing the issue. In most cases, the problem crept in after updating to Windows 11 24H2. Rolling back the update is an option, but only if you act swiftly; you cannot do it after the ten-day window is over.

Microsoft addressed this black screen issue in the October 2024 optional update for 24H2 PCs. However, an optional update doesn’t install automatically, making it difficult to resolve the issue. This fix is part of the gradual rollout, so even if you manually install the October 2024 optional update, you won’t get the fix immediately.

In other words, Alt-Tab is still broken for thousands of users with Windows 11 2024 Update, but we’ve a good news. Microsoft told us that it will fix the Alt-Tab black screen bug in Windows 11 24H2 for everyone in December.

How to fix the Alt + Tab black screen issue in 24H2?

In tests, we discovered the culprit is the Game Mode feature, and turning it off helped fix the black screen to some extent.

However, that isn’t a surefire method, and the black screen still appears, albeit for a shorter time. Disabling Hardware Acceleration helped resolve the problem in web browsers and social apps like Discord. But you won’t find the Hardware Acceleration setting in every app that encounters a black screen.

You can also try disabling the Optimizations for windowed games feature that reduces latency while switching to another app. Navigate to System > Display > Graphics > Optimizations for windowed games and turn off the toggle.

Note that the next Patch Tuesday Update for Windows 11 24H2, aka November 2024, will ship with a fix for the Alt + Tab black screen issue. So, remain patient until that arrives and wait for the gradual rollout to complete, which could take a few weeks more.

In addition to the Alt-Tab black screen bug, Windows 11 24H2 has other bugs, including an issue where File Explorer’s menu appears outside the screen. Another bug causes the internet (Wi-Fi) to stop working and network sharing to disappear.

The post Windows 11 24H2 causes a black screen when using Alt + Tab appeared first on Windows Latest

We have been using Windows Server 2025 for a while now. In our tests, Windows Latest observed that it’s a solid operating system and does not have too many major issues that you need to watch out. Windows Server 2025 system requirements haven’t changed much compared to Windows Server 2022. Let’s discuss them first.

What is required to run Windows Server 2025?

• A 1.4 GHz 64-bit processor with support for x64 instruction set, SLAT, NX, and DEP.
• You’ll also need to have CMPXCHG16b, LAHF/SAHF, PrefetchW, and SSE4.2 instruction set with POPCNT instruction. POPCNT instruction is now also a requirement for consumer editions, as part of Microsoft’s efforts to make Windows more security.

Only the SSE4.2 and POPCNT requirements are new. Microsoft has made it mandatory for all Windows 11 24H2 editions, so it isn’t a surprise for Windows Server 2025. POPCNT began shipping in 2008, so processors that don’t have it are probably too weak to run Server 2025 as well.

Here’s the full list of supported Intel CPUs for Windows Server 2025:

• Second through Fifth Gen Xeon SP processors
• Xeon 6 SP Processors (67xxE)
• Xeon E 23xx and 24xx
• Xeon D 17xx, 18xx, 21xx, 27xx, 28xx
• Pentium G7400 and G7400T

Windows Server 2025 supported AMD CPUs

• AMD EPYC 7xx2
• AMD EPYC 7xx3
• AMD EPYC 4xx4
• AMD EPYC 8xx4
• AMD EPYC 9xx4
• AMD EPYC 9xx5

RAM

• 512 MB for Server Core
• 2 GB (4GB recommended) if you want to run the Server with Desktop Experience

If you want to run Server 2025 in a VM, Microsoft suggests allocating 800MB or more memory for the virtual machine.

Storage

32 GB minimum. You’ll need more space if you use more than 16GB RAM for certain OS functions like hibernation, which occupies some storage every time you hibernate the PC.

Network

A PCI Express-certified Ethernet adapter capable of at least 1 Gbps throughput.

Other Requirements

• UEFI 2.3.1c-based system and firmware with Secure Boot.
• Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0.
• Graphics device and monitor capable of Super VGA (1024 x 768) or higher-resolution.

What’s new in Windows Server 2025?

Here are the following new additions to Windows Server 2025:

• Bluetooth – You can connect Bluetooth peripherals and audio devices to a Server 2025 PC.
• Dev Drive and Block Cloning – Dev Drive will help users manage the virtual disks and implement Block Cloning, which speeds up the file copying process. If you go by the official stats, it promises up to 92% improvement in copying a 10GB file using Block Cloning.
• Credential Guard – Like Server 2022, Microsoft bundles this password-protecting feature in the new version.
• Email & accounts – Users can add a personal Microsoft Account, Entra account, or a work or school account on a Windows Server 2025 PC. However, the first setup requires a domain join.
• Windows Terminal & Winget – Server 2025 includes the Terminal app that debuted with Windows 11 21H2. In addition, you can use the Winget package manager directly from the Terminal without installing it separately.
• Task Manager & Start Menu – Microsoft adds the new Task Manager with theme support and minor UI changes. The Start Menu supports pinned apps for one-click access to the most-used apps.
• File Explorer – You can create archives in ZIP, 7z, and TAR formats with the new File Explorer. RAR support is missing so you cannot create RAR archives but can unarchive such files.

There are many more feature upgrades listed on the official support page of this new build.

Windows Server 2025 gets rid of Windows PowerShell 2.0 Engine, SMTP server, and IIS 6 Management Console.

Good-old WordPad is no longer a part of the OS, forcing users to switch to another text editor for viewing and editing files.

The post Windows Server 2025 system requirements, new features. Now rolling out appeared first on Windows Latest

The successor, aka Windows 11, steadily captured the desktop market share while Windows 10 dwindled to the 60% mark. If this trend continues, Windows 10 will soon enter the late 50% range, which is bad news for its supporters.

In September 2024, Windows 11 stood at 33.42%, while Windows 10 dropped to 62.75%. For October, the stats are 35.58% and 60.95%, as per the official report released by Statcounter.

Windows 11 is also the top-most choice of gamers. Steam’s Hardware & Software Survey for October 2024 reveals a sharp 4.28% growth in Windows 11 64-bit users. Windows 10 64-bit user base dropped by 2.71% and now stands at 45.95%.

Should you switch now?

Microsoft will support Windows 10 until October 14, 2025, which is less than a year from now. They don’t have any plans to keep it live for consumer editions, which is reflected in their Extended Security Updates (ESU) program.

The company will charge $30 to keep delivering security updates for one year. Come October 2026, you’ll have to make a tough decision to get rid of Windows 10 and migrate to Windows 11. Enterprise editions have a different Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, which offers support for three years, but consumer edition users like us can only purchase the one-year extension.

Both Microsoft and Windows 10 users have less than one year to decide. We are still confused about whether Microsoft will infuriate more than 50 desktop market share with this decision.

Why would a user pay $30 (one-third cost of a Windows 11 Home license) only to get security updates for a year? Why doesn’t the consumer edition offer plans for two and three years? Won’t Windows 11’s system requirement render many usable PCs “useless”?

Microsoft is already gloating about its Copilot+ PCs being 5x faster than popular 5-year-old PCs. The improved hardware does offer performance benefits, but is it really sensible to coerce Windows 10 users to purchase a new PC just to run Windows 11?

We hope the Redmond giant pays attention to these questions and offers a solution to maintain Windows 10 and not force everyone into the “era of AI.”

The post Windows 11 reaches 35% market share, and 52% of gamers adore the new OS appeared first on Windows Latest

Windows Latest installed the latest version of the official Windows 11 LTSC ISO and then put it to test on a PC. The installation is smooth for the most part, except when it asks you to enter a work or school account. Note that Windows 11 LTSC is available for Enterprise users, so you cannot use a personal Microsoft account to set it up.

Bypassing the Work/School Account Requirement

We used a few techniques to bypass the work/school account requirement in Windows 11 LTSC. First, we tried the oobe\bypassnro command, which used to work in previous versions of Windows 11. But its charm failed to deceive the setup, and we landed on the same page after the automatic restart.

Then, we turned off the internet connection and tried again, but the account requirement page didn’t let us pass. After that, we launched the command prompt using Shift + F10, opened Task Manager, and ended the Microsoft Account process. The screen flashed for a few seconds, and the much-awaited “I don’t have internet” option appeared.

We proceeded with a local account setup. It didn’t even ask us to set up security questions.

One thing that we liked about this was that there was no mention of adware, tracking, or promotional items on the OOBE page. It would be best if Microsoft adopted this approach for Windows 11 consumer editions (Pro and Home) as well, but we all know that it won’t improve.

Windows 11 LTSC is clean.

After booting to the desktop, at first glance, it doesn’t look like a simple, less-modern version. But when you open the Start menu, the difference becomes clear.

There are few system apps, unlike the clutter and promotions that you get with consumer editions. Windows 11 LTSC 2024 includes the new Outlook web app by default.

We checked a few system apps to verify if they have been updated. Most of them look like legacy apps from Windows 7, especially Snipping Tool and Paint. Microsoft is keeping the latest version of both these apps limited to Pro, Home and other editons.

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The new inbox apps multiple new features, like the background remover and layers in Paint and OCR in Snipping Tool.

Microsoft is making it challenging to customize Windows when the OS is not activated.

In Windows 11 24H2, most personalization options are locked, and it has patched the existing loopholes. For example, previously, you could apply a dark theme by clicking on the theme box, as shown in the image below. It doesn’t work anymore.

Previously, some customization was available, but Microsoft really wants you to buy a license. This phenomenon is common in all editions of Windows 11.

Windows 11 LTSC’s File Explorer packs all the latest improvements. You can duplicate tabs; labels appear below commonly used actions, compressions formats support for TAR, and more. But the overall UI doesn’t look as polished as the regular editions.

However, LTSC promises a no-nonsense approach that doesn’t overload the OS with newer features. So, users don’t have to accustom themselves to unnecessary apps, design, or UI changes ship with each feature update. It doesn’t include any AI component, so no Copilot app or any other bloatware.

You can still access Copilot via Edge, which is preinstalled in LTSC.

Microsoft Store isn’t available, so you’ll have to download the programs from the official sites and wait for updates to improve the system apps. We suggest trying it only if you don’t need feature updates and the bugs that come with it and want a clean OS with a bare minimum of system apps.

Here’s the full list of apps installed on our Windows 11 LTSC PC:

The post We tried Windows 11 LTSC. It comes with your classic apps, no AI or modern UI appeared first on Windows Latest