Happy birthday hope you had a good one..

Paddy..

Thank you all

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5603 (Dev Channel)

New features gradually being rolled out to the Dev Channel with toggle on

Introducing AI actions in File Explorer
With AI actions in File Explorer, you can interact more deeply with your files by right-clicking to quickly take actions like editing images or summarizing documents. Like with Click to Do, AI actions in File Explorer allow you to stay in your flow while leveraging the power of AI to take advantage of editing tools in apps or Copilot functionality without having to open your file. AI actions in File Explorer are easily accessible – to try out AI actions in File Explorer, just right-click on a file and you will see a new AI actions entry on the content menu that allows you to choose from available options for your file.

Today, you can try one of four image actions for seamless editing or web searches with images:

• Bing Visual Search: Allows you to search the web using an image instead of text. Find similar images and products, get details about sites using the image, and identify landmarks, plants, and famous faces. From searching what you see on your screen, to shopping your preferred style, getting help with that homework problem, or translating text, getting answers is more intuitive than ever.
  
• Blur Background: Opens the Photos app which automatically finds the background in the photo, and with a single click, instantly highlights your subject and blurs out the background. You can also customize the effect by adjusting the Blur Intensity or use the Brush Tool to modify the areas being blurred.
  
• Erase Objects: With Photos by selecting or highlighting an unwanted element in your photo and Generative Erase makes it disappear.  It allows you to fix and remove distractions from your photos.
  
• Remove Background: With Paint allows you to alter any image automatically in just one click leaving a smooth cutout of the subject. Background removal can detect the subject from the entire canvas or using the selection tool.
  

These four image actions currently support these file types: .jpg, .jpeg, and .png.

Over the course of the coming weeks, we will begin to roll out new AI actions for Microsoft 365 files:

• Summarize: With Copilot you can generate summaries of various document types stored on OneDrive and SharePoint without the need to open them individually. Find the information you need quickly! Supported file types: .docx, .doc, .pptx, .ppt, .xlsx, .xls, .pdf, .rtf, .txt, .loop.
  
• Create an FAQ: Copilot can help you turn your OneDrive files into a neatly formatted, AI-generated Q&A list. Whether you're building internal knowledge bases, prepping for meetings, or crafting quick-start guides, "Create an FAQ" distills complex information into clear, shareable FAQs in seconds. Supported file types: xlsx, .ppt, .pptx, .doc, .docx, .pdf, .txt, .rtf, .aspx, .htm, and .html.
  

To see AI actions for Microsoft 365 files, you must be:

• For Summarize, you need to be Microsoft 365 subscriber with a Copilot subscription (Microsoft account and Microsoft Entra ID supported).
  
• For Create an FAQ, you need to be a commercial Microsoft 365 subscriber with a Copilot subscription (Microsoft Entra ID supported). Consumer support with a Microsoft account is coming later.
  
• Enrolled in the Microsoft 365 Insider Program. Your PC will need to be part of the Beta Channel update channel. Use these instructions to get setup today: Become a Microsoft 365 Insider on Windows.
  

Let us know what you think of these new AI actions in File Explorer!

Introducing Advanced Settings
Advanced settings are now available via Settings > System > Advanced with some new features. The Advanced page is a redesign of the For Developers page, intending to make its settings easier to find for a broader audience. With the redesign of this page, we've added additional settings: Enable long paths, Virtual workspaces, and File Explorer + version control.

Enable long paths allows you to remove MAX_PATH limitations from common Win32 file and directory functions. Virtual workspaces allow you to enable/disable virtual environments such as Hyper-V, Windows Sandbox, and more. File Explorer + version control provides the ability to display Git information directly inside File Explorer. Simply select your repository folder and File Explorer will display information such as your branch, diff count, last commit message, and more.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback on GitHub at microsoft/WindowsAdvancedSettings.

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Dev Channel with toggle on

[Taskbar & System Tray]

• In addition to the new grouping of the Accessibility flyout in quick settings, we are adding text descriptions for the assistive technologies like Narrator, Voice access, etc. for easy identification and learning by the users.
  

[Search on the Taskbar]
We are beginning to roll out some improvements for the Windows search box on your taskbar:

• When showing search results, we will provide a notice that your search results may be incomplete if Windows is still indexing your PC with a link to check your indexing status. You can dismiss this notice.
• We are also providing a status for files and folders on your PC so you can easily see if a file or folder is available when online (cloud) or available on your device.

[Voice access]

• We have temporarily disabled Chinese support in voice access to address some issues. We plan to begin rolling this change out again in a future flight soon.

[Widgets]                                                                                                                                                                                         
We're trying out a new visual experience for the widgets board, with a more organized, personalized, and engaging feed. In addition, we are introducing Copilot-curated stories into the feed. These make it easy to get a multifaceted view on a single topic, connecting summaries, videos, and images from trusted MSN premium publishers. Some features, such as pinning and hiding, are still under development. Explore this experience and please share your feedback as we'll continue to evolve the experience.

You can choose to return to the previous widgets board experience, by changing the 'Copilot Discover (Preview)' toggle in the Personalize MSN settings dialog.

[Power & Battery]

• We're introducing User Interaction-Aware CPU Power Management, an OS-level enhancement that helps reduce power consumption and extend your battery life. After a period of inactivity on your PC, Windows now conserve power by automatically applying efficient power management policies. This happens seamlessly to save energy while you're inactive, with full performance instantly restored the moment you get back to it. It's another way we're working to make your Windows experience both responsive and energy-efficient!
  
  • Please note: Actual savings depend on device segment, power mode and whether you're plugged in or running on battery, according to manufacturer-defined Processor Power Management (PPM) settings.
    

[Windows Share]

• In the Windows share window, as part of the ability to quickly edit and enhance images while sharing, we have adjusted the UI so that now you can now select their compression scale from High, Medium, or Low Quality, instead of choosing from an entire scale ranging from 0-100.

[Windows Backup]

• We're trying out different variations of the landing page when you launch the Windows Backup app.

[Snipping Tool]

• [ADDED] Last month, we announced Snipping Tool's new text extractor feature — designed to minimize the number of steps it takes to copy text to your clipboard without having to take a screenshot of your screen. With this Windows update, we're making it easier to jump directly into text extractor via Win + Shift + T. You can learn more about using text extractor here. You should be on Snipping Tool version 11.2503.29.0 or higher as well.
  

[Settings]
We are rolling out some small changes for your setting your browser defaults in Windows 11 via Settings > Apps > Default apps:

• For Add new link/file types of 'Set Default' button, we have added additional types for the "Set Default" button. You can now set more types.
  
• For one-click button of PDF for browser sets, we have added a new button for making your default browser also the default app for PDF files.
  

Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Dev Channel with toggle on

[General]

• Fixed an issue where core Windows surfaces were not able to load in safe mode (File Explorer, Start menu, and others) after latest flights.

[Start menu]

• Fixed an issue causing Start menu to be blank for some Insiders in the previous flight.

[File Explorer]

• Fixed an issue where if File Explorer was maximized and you clicked the new tab button it would unmaximize the window.

[Settings]

• Fixed an issue related to loading Bluetooth information which could lead to Settings and Quick Settings crashes.
• Fixed an issue where you couldn't switch active hours from manually to automatic in Settings > Windows Update.
• Fixed an issue which was causing Settings > Personalization > Lock screen to crash for some Insiders.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.4151 (Beta Channel)

IMPORTANT NOTE: Build 22635.5305 was the last update released to the Beta Channel based on Windows 11, version 23H2. All Insiders in the Beta Channel will now be upgraded automatically to Windows 11, version 24H2 with today's flight of Build 26120.4151.

New features gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

B]Introducing AI actions in File Explorer[/B]
With AI actions in File Explorer, you can interact more deeply with your files by right-clicking to quickly take actions like editing images or summarizing documents. Like with Click to Do, AI actions in File Explorer allow you to stay in your flow while leveraging the power of AI to take advantage of editing tools in apps or Copilot functionality without having to open your file. AI actions in File Explorer are easily accessible – to try out AI actions in File Explorer, just right-click on a file and you will see a new AI actions entry on the content menu that allows you to choose from available options for your file.
Today, you can try one of four image actions for seamless editing or web searches with images:

• Bing Visual Search: Allows you to search the web using an image instead of text. Find similar images and products, get details about sites using the image, and identify landmarks, plants, and famous faces. From searching what you see on your screen, to shopping your preferred style, getting help with that homework problem, or translating text, getting answers is more intuitive than ever.
  
• Blur Background: Opens the Photos app which automatically finds the background in the photo, and with a single click, instantly highlights your subject and blurs out the background. You can also customize the effect by adjusting the Blur Intensity or use the Brush Tool to modify the areas being blurred.
  
• Erase Objects: With Photos by selecting or highlighting an unwanted element in your photo and Generative Erase makes it disappear.  It allows you to fix and remove distractions from your photos.
  
• Remove Background: With Paint allows you to alter any image automatically in just one click leaving a smooth cutout of the subject. Background removal can detect the subject from the entire canvas or using the selection tool.
  

These four image actions currently support these file types: .jpg, .jpeg, and .png.

Over the course of the coming weeks, we will begin to roll out new AI actions for Microsoft 365 files:

• Summarize: With Copilot you can generate summaries of various document types stored on OneDrive and SharePoint without the need to open them individually. Find the information you need quickly! Supported file types: .docx, .doc, .pptx, .ppt, .xlsx, .xls, .pdf, .rtf, .txt, .loop.
  
• Create an FAQ: Copilot can help you turn your OneDrive files into a neatly formatted, AI-generated Q&A list. Whether you're building internal knowledge bases, prepping for meetings, or crafting quick-start guides, "Create an FAQ" distills complex information into clear, shareable FAQs in seconds. Supported file types: xlsx, .ppt, .pptx, .doc, .docx, .pdf, .txt, .rtf, .aspx, .htm, and .html.
  

To see AI actions for Microsoft 365 files, you must be:

• For Summarize, you need to be Microsoft 365 subscriber with a Copilot subscription (Microsoft account and Microsoft Entra ID supported).
  
• For Create an FAQ, you need to be a commercial Microsoft 365 subscriber with a Copilot subscription (Microsoft Entra ID supported). Consumer support with a Microsoft account is coming later.
  
• Enrolled in the Microsoft 365 Insider Program. Your PC will need to be part of the Beta Channel update channel. Use these instructions to get setup today: Become a Microsoft 365 Insider on Windows.
  

Let us know what you think of these new AI actions in File Explorer!

Introducing Advanced Settings
Advanced settings are now available via Settings > System > Advanced with some new features. The Advanced page is a redesign of the For Developers page, intending to make its settings easier to find for a broader audience. With the redesign of this page, we've added additional settings: Enable long paths, Virtual workspaces, and File Explorer + version control.

Enable long paths allows you to remove MAX_PATH limitations from common Win32 file and directory functions. Virtual workspaces allow you to enable/disable virtual environments such as Hyper-V, Windows Sandbox, and more. File Explorer + version control provides the ability to display Git information directly inside File Explorer. Simply select your repository folder and File Explorer will display information such as your branch, diff count, last commit message, and more.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback on GitHub at microsoft/WindowsAdvancedSettings.

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

[Taskbar & System Tray]

• In addition to the new grouping of the Accessibility flyout in quick settings, we are adding text descriptions for the assistive technologies like Narrator, Voice access, etc. for easy identification and learning by the users.
  

[Search on the Taskbar]
We are beginning to roll out some improvements for the Windows search box on your taskbar:

• When showing search results, we will provide a notice that your search results may be incomplete if Windows is still indexing your PC with a link to check your indexing status. You can dismiss this notice.
• We are also providing a status for files and folders on your PC so you can easily see if a file or folder is available when online (cloud) or available on your device.
[/list

[Voice access]

• We have temporarily disabled Chinese support in voice access to address some issues. We plan to begin rolling this change out again in a future flight soon.

[Widgets]
We're trying out a new visual experience for the widgets board, with a more organized, personalized, and engaging feed. In addition, we are introducing Copilot-curated stories into the feed. These make it easy to get a multifaceted view on a single topic, connecting summaries, videos, and images from trusted MSN premium publishers. Some features, such as pinning and hiding, are still under development. Explore this experience and please share your feedback as we'll continue to evolve the experience.

You can choose to return to the previous widgets board experience, by changing the 'Copilot Discover (Preview)' toggle in the Personalize MSN settings dialog.

[Power & Battery]

• We're introducing User Interaction-Aware CPU Power Management, an OS-level enhancement that helps reduce power consumption and extend your battery life. After a period of inactivity on your PC, Windows now conserve power by automatically applying efficient power management policies. This happens seamlessly to save energy while you're inactive, with full performance instantly restored the moment you get back to it. It's another way we're working to make your Windows experience both responsive and energy-efficient!
  
  • Please note: Actual savings depend on device segment, power mode and whether you're plugged in or running on battery, according to manufacturer-defined Processor Power Management (PPM) settings.
    

[Windows Share]

• In the Windows share window, as part of the ability to quickly edit and enhance images while sharing, we have adjusted the UI so that now you can now select their compression scale from High, Medium, or Low Quality, instead of choosing from an entire scale ranging from 0-100.

[Windows Backup]

• We're trying out different variations of the landing page when you launch the Windows Backup app.

[Snipping Tool]

• [ADDED] Last month, we announced Snipping Tool's new text extractor feature — designed to minimize the number of steps it takes to copy text to your clipboard without having to take a screenshot of your screen. With this Windows update, we're making it easier to jump directly into text extractor via Win + Shift + T. You can learn more about using text extractor here. You should be on Snipping Tool version 11.2503.29.0 or higher as well.
  

[Settings]
We are rolling out some small changes in the EEA region for default browsers via Settings > Apps > Default apps:
[list=1]

• Additional file and link types will be set for the new default browser, if it registers for them.
• There is now a separate one-click button for browsers to make it easy to also change your .pdf default, if the browser registers for the .pdf file type.

Fixes gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

[General]

• Fixed an issue where core Windows surfaces were not able to load in safe mode (File Explorer, Start menu, and others) after latest flights.

[File Explorer]

• Fixed an issue where if File Explorer was maximized and you clicked the new tab button it would unmaximize the window.

[Settings]

• Fixed an issue related to loading Bluetooth information which could lead to Settings and Quick Settings crashes.
• Fixed an issue where you couldn't switch active hours from manually to automatic in Settings > Windows Update.
• Fixed an issue which was causing Settings > Personalization > Lock screen to crash for some Insiders.

The Windows Subsystem for Linux has been released as open source.

Information about it is available at The Windows Subsystem for Linux is now open source.

Happy Birthday, Teacher!!! 🎂🎂🎂

Releasing Windows 11 Build 26100.4188 to the Release Preview Channel

Gradual rollout
The following features and improvements might not be available to all users because they will roll out gradually. Text bolded in brackets indicate the area of the change being documented.

• [Click to Do (preview)]
  
  • New! We're introducing more intelligent text actions to enhance your Click to Do experience even further on AMD and Intel™-powered Copilot+ PCs. Use WIN key + mouse-click or WIN + Q to select a text block and then drag to select the text that you want. You'll see options to Summarize, Create a bulleted list, or to help you Rewrite your text, so it sounds more causal, more formal, or more polished.
    
  • New!1Ask Copilot is a new action within Click to Do. When you highlight text or an image, Click to Do offers the Ask Copilot Selecting it opens Microsoft Copilot with your content in the prompt box. You can send the selected text or image directly to the Copilot app to complete your prompt.
    
  • New! If your PC has pen and inking capabilities, you can configure the shortcut button to open Click to Do with a single-click, double-click, or press and hold through Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Pen & Windows Ink.
    
  • New! You can add Click to Do as one of the four apps in the pen menu on your PC. If all slots for the pen menu are full, you might need to replace one app with Click to Do in the menu settings.
    
  • New! Click to Do can now perform intelligent text actions in Spanish and French.
    
• [Copilot]
  
  • New! You can open Copilot on Windows with Win + C. You can personalize your Copilot key and Win + C experience at any time with the existing "Customize Copilot key on keyboard" under Settings > Personalization > Text input. For Enterprise users, see Updated Windows and Microsoft 365 Coplot Chat experience.
    
  • New! To press to talk with Copilot on Windows, hold the Copilot key or Win + C for two seconds if you don't have a Copilot key. Press Esc or stay silent for a few seconds to end the call. You can also use Alt + Spacebar to talk with Copilot on Windows. This feature enables you to interact with Copilot using your voice, providing instant responses while you continue your tasks.
    
• [Cross Device Resume] New! Seamlessly resume working on OneDrive files from your phone (iOS and Android) on your Windows 11 PC with a single click. With this feature, you will get a notification asking you if you want to pick up where you left off editing a OneDrive file like a Word doc that you last viewed or edited on your phone within a 5-minute time window preceding unlocking your PC.
  
• [Energy saver] New! IT admins can manage Energy saver settings on Windows 11 PCs through group policies and MDM configurations using Microsoft Intune. This feature helps extend battery life by limiting background activity, dimming the screen, and contributing to environmental sustainability. To configure the policy, go to the Local Group Policy under Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Power Management > Energy Saver Settings and "Enable Energy Saver to Always Be On."
  
• [Graphics] New! Manage your PC's HDR features under Settings > System > Display > Updates include: A clearer label for "Use HDR" that better explains which media types are supported. The ability to stream HDR video even when HDR is turned off. On PCs with Dolby Vision, a new toggle lets you turn Dolby Vision on or off independently of HDR—giving you more control over your viewing experience.
  
• [Narrator] New! Enhance digital accessibility with AI-powered image descriptions in Narrator on Copilot+ PCs. This feature provides detailed descriptions of images, charts, and graphs for blind and low-vision users. To turn on Narrator, press Ctrl + Windows key + Enter or search for 'Narrator' in Windows search. Use Narrator key + Ctrl + D for image descriptions.
  
• [Improved Windows Search]
  
  • New! As part of improving Windows Search on Copilot+ PCs, we're beginning to roll out the ability to type a setting you're looking for in the Windows search box on your taskbar without needing to remember the exact setting name. For example, you can use your own words to find settings like "change my theme" or "about my PC". You no longer need to remember the exact setting name you are looking for.
    
  • New! In the European Economic Area (EEA), you can now find cloud photos using improved Windows Search on the taskbar. Describe the photos, like 'European castles' or 'summer picnics,' in the search box. Photos from the cloud and your Copilot+ PC appear in the search results. Exact keyword matches within your cloud files will also show up. This feature is gradually rolling out to Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, with support for AMD and Intel-powered PCs coming soon.
    
• [Search on Taskbar] New! Improved support for web search providers in Windows Search for the EEA, including with increased discoverability.
  
• [Settings]
  
  • New! Find answers to commonly asked questions about your PC and Windows 11 in the new FAQs section on the Settings > System > About It covers topics like system setup, performance, and compatibility – all in one place.
    
  • New! The dialog to rename your printer under Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners now matches the Windows 11 look and feel.
    
  • New! Mouse settings are now easier to access under Settings > Accessibility > Mouse and Mouse pointer and touch, with no need to open Control Panel. You'll find updated icons for Mouse pointer speed and Enhance mouse pointer precision, plus options for customizing the mouse indicator, pointer trails, and hover activation time.
    
• [Taskbar]
  
  • New! Admins can configure taskbar policies so users can unpin specific apps, ensuring they are not repinned during the next policy refresh. To turn on this feature, use the new PinGeneration option.
    
  • Fixed: When using Tab and Shift + Tab to move keyboard focus around the taskbar, if you go backwards at least once you can get keyboard focus stuck on the taskbar frame, which could lead screen readers to just say "pane".
  • Fixed: Keyboard focus may be unexpectedly set to widgets in the taskbar on login, which can make widgets invoke
• [Voice access]
  
  • New! Voice access now includes an in-product experience that highlights new features and improvements. Use the settings menu to open or dismiss it anytime.
    
  • New! You can find voice access under Accessibility in Quick Settings at the lower-right corner of your screen near the clock. To open Quick Settings, select the network, volume, or battery icon.
    
  • Fixed: Voice access may freeze with error "working on it" when dictating.
• [Voice typing] New! You control the profanity filter. When you turn it on, it masks profanity with asterisks. When you turn it off, words appear as spoken. To change the setting, open voice typing (Win + H), select the settings icon, and turn on the Filter profanity switch.
  
• [Windows Share]
  
  • New! Make last-minute edits such as cropping, rotating, and adding filters to images shared through the Windows Share window.
    
  • New! When you drag a local file from File Explorer or your desktop, a tray appears at the top of your screen. Drop the file into a suggested app or select More... to open the Windows share window.
    
  • New! Add apps that support sharing directly to the right-click menu for local files in File Explorer or on the desktop.
    
• [Audio] Fixed: The startup sound may not play on boot, although it is enabled.
  
• [MMC] Fixed: Improved the colors used in MMC when items are selected, both generally, and when contrast modes are enabled.
  
• [USB] Fixed: Certain USB devices may become disconnected after sleep, until you reboot your PC.
  
• [Input]
  
  • Fixed: Voice typing won't start from the touch keyboard when using the Chinese (Simplified) narrow layout.
  • Fixed: When using the Symbols section of the touch keyboard, pressing the key to change pages may unexpectedly insert a character into password fields.
  • Fixed: Typing in some apps may stop working after disconnecting from a remote desktop session.
• [JPG] Fixed: When using CopyPixels the pixels may be unexpectedly inverted in certain cases.
  
  • [Bluetooth] Fixed: Settings may crash when loading information about Bluetooth devices.
    
  • [Display] Fixed: Unexpected scaling and window position changes may occur after sleep/resume for some devices.
    
  • [Print] Fixed: Non-admin users can't uninstall printers that they've added.
    
  • [Windows Hello] Fixed: When using [URL=https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/security/identity-protection/hello-for-business/]Windows Hello for Business[/URL] facial recognition, the camera may unexpectedly fail after waking the PC from sleep, blocking login using this method.
    
  • [Camera] Fixed: Settings may crash when interacting with content under Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Cameras.
    
  • [File Explorer] Fixed: If you have disconnected network drives when doing a search from Home it may prevent searches from executing and you remain on Home.
    
  • [UHF Tuning] Fixed: Tuning scan for UHF channels doesn't work, and only VHF channels are returned.
    
  Coming later to the European Economic Area. Functionality will vary by device and market. See aka.ms/copilotpluspcs.
  
  Normal rollout
  This update includes the following features and improvements that are rolling out as part of this update. Text bolded in brackets indicates the area of the change being documented.
  
  
  • [BitLocker] Fixed: This update addresses an issue where devices with BitLocker on removable drives could encounter a blue screen error after resuming from sleep or hybrid-booting.
    
  • [Boot menu screens] Fixed: This update addresses the issue where early boot screens, such as BitLocker PIN, BitLocker Recovery key, and boot menu screens, render slowly.
    
  • [Graphics kernel] Fixed: An issue where some game titles become unresponsive after upgrading to Windows 11, version 24H2.
    
  • [Memory leak] Fixed: This update addresses an issue in the Input Service that causes increased memory usage, potentially impacting performance in multi-user, multi-lingual, and remote desktop usage.
    
  • [Multimedia] Fixed: If you turn on multi-app mode or basic camera mode in advanced camera settings, the Windows Hello Face Enrollment might not work and show a bad camera preview.
    
  • [Network] Fixed: This update addresses an issue where Windows Server 2025 always shows the network as "public" on new domain controllers. It now checks for a domain controller name before using loopback addresses to ensure proper Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) binding.
    

Best wishes mate

Wishing you a Happy Birthday and, of course, a chocolate-filed cake.

The ESR version for Windows 7 is now at 115.23.1.