The existence of this tech surfaced by Gamesual, who noticed a patent filed by Microsoft early this year. The patent’s name is “Providing Personalized Content for Unintrusive Online Gaming Experience.”

That’s a long way to say, “we’re putting advertising in your games.” Earlier this year, a report from Business Insider said Microsoft was working on in-game advertising for free-to-play titles on Xbox.

This patent’s existence would back that report up, as the application was filed before the reporting. The patent mentions one possible use as advertising boards around a soccer field.

It’s a perfect match, to be honest. Sports games should have relevant advertising shown. It feels weird when the only in-game ads are for imaginary products.

Other in-game advertising uses might be on in-game radio stations. The patent also mentions billboards in urban locations.

Whatever your feelings on in-game advertising are, the inclusion of real-world products will make games feel more immersive. Advertising is everywhere in the world we live in.

Should the escapism of video games be immune? Or does bringing real-world products into game worlds anchor them in our shared experience?

We can’t decide, but there seems to be a place for tastefully done in-game advertising.

Xbox isn’t the only console working on in-game advertising. Sony’s PlayStation group is also working on in-game ads for free-to-play titles.

It is important to note that these in-game ads are one possibility. It’s also good that the programs only mention free-to-play games, which somehow have to recoup their development costs.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

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The post Xbox explores in-game advertising with new patent appeared first on KnowTechie.

The upgraded tool is currently rolling out to Windows Insiders for beta testing. The Snipping Tool first arrived four years ago as a replacement for the existing screenshot tool.

The upgraded version has a new Record button next to the existing Snip one. Selecting that will give an option for which part of the screen you want to record and a button to start the recording.

Once finished, the recording will appear in the Snipping Tool playback menu. You can then watch and save the file.

The lack of a native screen recorder for Windows 11 has been a long-standing issue. Almost every other operating system has a simple, built-in way to record. That includes Mac, Chromebook, iPhone, and Android devices.

Microsoft hasn’t said which format the screen recordings will save in. Many of the popular third-party tools give the option of video files or GIFs.

In its current state, users might notice bugs. Microsoft has noted a known bug that causes a delay between when the “Start” recording button is pressed and when the recording begins.

There is also another bug where “the Snipping Tool app window does not restore when initiating a new snip from within the app.”

This is just one of Microsoft’s latest improvements to Windows 11. Users of iCloud will now be able to see their photo library in File Explorer.

The Windows 11 2022 Update brought better Snap Layouts, tabs in File Explorer, better gaming, accessibility and security, and more.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

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The post Microsoft is adding a screen recorder to Windows 11 appeared first on KnowTechie.

Communities is a free feature that allows people to join groups centered around specific topics.

The company revealed the new feature on its website earlier this week.

Communities allow groups to use the calendar, meeting, and chat features that have become popular within Microsoft Teams.

Think of communities like Discord or Facebook Groups.

People can establish their Teams community around certain topics, such as recreational sports leagues, small businesses, pet lovers, or any other topic.

You can then use Teams’ tools like group chat, file sharing, and more to communicate and organize with your community. And it’s all free.

Communities are coming now to users on iOS and Android, with included templates to help organize new groups.

Additionally, the feature will come to the desktop version of Teams in the coming weeks.

You’ll need a Microsoft Account to join a Teams community.

Just like Discord, the owner or admin of the Teams community will be able to create an invite link, which you’ll use to join the community.

Also, like Discord, if that link gets overshared or abused, the admin can scrap it and create a new invite link for new members.

Microsoft’s new community feature for Teams is the logical next step for the collaboration-focused app.

Group features like this have become common amongst social apps. And they provide a great medium for collaboration and socialization around specific topics.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

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The post Microsoft Teams adds new Discord-like communities feature appeared first on KnowTechie.

Windows 11 is the latest operating system from Microsoft, and the company consistently pushes out updates for users.

While these are usually helpful, there might be times when you don’t want to update. For that, you’ll need to know how to stop automatic updates on Windows 11

Typically, you should avoid pausing automatic updates on Windows, but there are instances where it might be the smart thing to do.

Maybe you have a big presentation and are worried the update will start before you present.

It’s also possible that some of your programs may have issues after updating, and you need those programs for work or school. There are numerous reasons, honestly.

READ MORE: How to change your username in Windows 11

That said, Microsoft’s updates are still important and can help protect your data, so only pause updates if you are sure it is something you need to do.

If you fall into this category, keep reading below, as we’ll review multiple methods of turning off automatic Windows 11 updates.

How to pause automatic updates on Windows 11

The first method we’ll go through will let you pause upcoming updates on Windows 11.

This is our recommended method because it makes updating your PC easier whenever you’re ready. Follow along below:

1. Go to Start and then Settings, or right-click on the Start menu and select Settings

2. Next, click on Windows Update

3. To pause updates, click the Pause updates drop-down menu and specify the duration of the pause

Once the pause period is over, Windows will automatically install new updates. So don’t forget to pause the updates again if you find it necessary.

READ MORE: Windows 12 release date — when is it coming out?

But again, updates are often important, so we don’t recommend waiting too long.

Disabling Windows updates using the Services command

If you wish to disable Windows 11 automatic updates permanently, you may stop the whole Windows update service. To do this:

1. Go to the Start menu, type Run, and then press Enter

2. Next, in the Run app, type services.msc and press Enter

3. In the service window, look for Windows Update and double-click on it

4. In the Windows update settings, select Disabled from the drop-down menu beside Startup Type

5. After that, click on OK and restart your PC to put the changes into effect

READ MORE: How to create a virtual desktop in Windows 11

Windows updates can be enabled again by following the same process listed above. Simply change the Startup type back to Automatic.

How to disable Windows 11 updates using the registry

Disabling automatic updates in Windows 11 can also be accomplished by making changes to the registry.

If you prefer this method, follow the steps below:

1. Go to the Start menu and type regedit and then press Enter

2. Go down this path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows. Alternatively, copy and paste the path into the Registry search bar

3. Right-click on the Windows folder in the sidebar and then select New > Key

4. Name the key WindowsUpdate and press Enter

5. Now, right-click on WindowsUpdate and again create a new key. Name it AU and press Enter

6. Right-click anywhere on the right panel and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value

7. Name the key NoAutoUpdate and press Enter

8. Double-click on it and change the value from 0 to 1

9. Close the Registry Editor and restart your PC

This method will completely disable Windows updates, but again, this method isn’t recommended unless you are very comfortable with making changes to Windows.

Disabling Windows updates through Group Policy

This is another in-depth method to disable automatic updates in Windows 11. Only use this if you are comfortable diving deep into System folders and making changes.

READ MORE: How to change the scroll direction in Windows 11

In this guide, we’ll be using Group Policy to accomplish the task. Here’s how:

1. Go to the Start menu, type gpedit.msc and then click on the Group policy editor in the search results

2. Navigate to the following path: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update> Manage updates offered from Windows Update

3. Double-click on Select the target Feature Update version and select the radial Enabled button

4. Next, type 21H1 into the Target Version for Feature Updates and click on OK

Doing this will stop updates from being pushed to Windows.

Typically, this method is only used for companies that can’t afford to take a chance on updates that break their sensitive programs.

For casual users, this method is not recommended.

Disabling Windows updates with a third-party app

The app we’ll be using to stop Windows 11 updates is Windows Update Blocker, whose sole purpose is to prevent updates from being installed.

If you don’t have much computer knowledge and want to disable Windows updates with an app, this method is for you.

1. First, download Windows Update Blocker
2. Next, extract the Windows Update Blocker file

3. Run the .exe file, select Disable updates and check Protect Services Settings

4. Click on Apply Now

You have successfully switched off automatic updates on Windows 11.

Additionally, you can reactivate the updates by selecting the Enable Updates option in Windows Update Blocker if you change your mind.

Disabling Windows updates is not always the answer

Disabling Windows 11 updates using the Registry and Group Policy Editors should be done cautiously. If you mess up any of the steps, it’s possible you’ll cause serious problems with your operating system.

In addition, the updates are typically for your own security, as they often include patches that protect you from vulnerabilities.

If you don’t want to risk causing damage to your operating system or simply need to pause updates for a little while, using something like the Windows Update Blocker app is recommended.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

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The post How to turn off automatic updates on Windows 11 appeared first on KnowTechie.

But now, the work-from-home crowd will be able to game during business hours with the blessing of Microsoft itself. 

The latest update to Microsoft Teams — Redmond’s answer to Slack — brings a swath of new casual games, where you can even compete against up to 250 of your colleagues. 

But don’t get too excited — yet. You won’t be able to frag colleagues in Doom Eternal’s multiplayer, no matter how much your boss looks like a Cacodemon.

Nor will it let you take down the malevolent Institute in the post-apocalyptic hellscape of Fallout 4. Rather, ‘Games for Work’ includes options like Minesweeper, Solitaire, and Wordament.

In Solitaire, players will compete to finish first. The Microsoft Teams flavor of Minesweeper adds a collaborative edge, as you work with your colleagues to clear the board.

Wordament, meanwhile, will list your company’s most erudite linguists on a leaderboard. 

Microsoft envisions ‘Games for Work’ as a team-building tool. It hopes that, by incorporating games into the working day, employees will emerge refreshed and ultimately more productive. 

“Research shows that gaming promotes cognitive benefits, helps foster empathy and encourages inclusion, team building and learning,” the company said in an announcement.

If you’re curious, you can check out the Microsoft Games for Work app here. You’ll likely have to get permission from your IT department before you start pwning your n00b colleagues in Minesweeper, however.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

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The post Microsoft Teams now lets you play casual games with colleagues appeared first on KnowTechie.

The latest edition commemorates the iconic (but, at the time, profoundly divisive) virtual office assistant, Clippy. 

If you’re unfamiliar with Clippy, here’s a brief history lesson. With the launch of Office 97, Microsoft sought to make its productivity suite less intimidating to the millions of people using a computer for the first time. 

Its solution was an interactive assistant that would appear as you worked, giving friendly tips about making the most of Microsoft Office.

Clippy was just one of many possible assistants, which included a caricature of Albert Einstein, an energetic puppy, and a cartoonish version of William Shakespeare. 

Microsoft’s intentions were pure, but the results were mixed. Experienced Office users found these assistants patronizing, intrusive, and unhelpful.

As Clippy was the most well-known of the assistants, it became the poster child for everything wrong with the feature. 

With the release of Office XP, Microsoft led Clippy behind the cowshed. Few shed tears.

But nostalgia is a weird thing. It makes you look fondly at things you once loathed. And in the years since, the Internet has quietly rehabilitated Clippy’s reputation. It’s no longer a reviled cartoon character, but a meme. 

And so, it makes sense Microsoft would choose to use Clippy as its mascot for the company’s annual Windows Ugly Sweater extravaganza. 

As in previous years, Microsoft will donate the proceeds to a charitable cause. This year, it’s the College Success Foundation, which helps “underserved, low-income students to access and succeed in college.”

If you’re tempted, you can buy the sweater from the Xbox Gear Shop while stocks last. It retails at $74.99 in the US and £64.99 in the UK. 

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

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The post The 2022 Windows ugly Christmas sweater is dedicated to Clippy appeared first on KnowTechie.

As reported by BleepingComputer, software historian Albacore noticed promotional messages for Microsoft products in a strange place. That place was the Start Menu, in the Accounts flyout menu.

His posts show ads for OneDrive nudging to “Back up your files.” Testing the feature using a local account produced “Sign up for Microsoft Account” and “Complete your profile,” both acting as prompts not to use a local account.

KnowTechie tried replicating this on all of our Windows 11 machines, to no avail. Only Windows Insider Dev builds have the feature. That build is basically like a beta version before beta testers actually receive it.

That means this could be some early tests, and Microsoft doesn’t intend for the new ad spots to go to consumer machines.

Microsoft loves some in-app advertising

Microsoft has snuck advertising into Windows 11 before. In March of 2022, File Explorer showed promotional messages for other Microsoft software.

At that time, Microsoft reversed the change and said that it was “an experimental banner that was not supposed to be published externally.”

Is that the case again? Once is a mistake, and twice is the beginning of a pattern…

And it’s not only two times. Microsoft used File Explorer to show ads in 2016, and Wordpad was used to display ads for Office.

The company also broke the Start Menu and Taskbar with ads for Teams, shortly before Windows 11 was released.

It may be how the world is going, as even Netflix has an ad-supported tier now.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

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The post Microsoft is serving ads in the Windows 11 sign-out menu appeared first on KnowTechie.

The new branding was initially spotted by The Verge and confirmed by a FAQ page on Microsoft’s website.

As noted by the publication, this rebranding began a couple of years ago. Microsoft changed the name of the subscription that unlocks these apps from Office 365 to Microsoft 365 back in 2020.

And now, the company is ready to make the Microsoft 365 leap entirely.

“In the coming months, Office.com, the Office mobile app, and the Office app for Windows will become the Microsoft 365 app, with a new icon, a new look, and even more features,” reads a Microsoft FAQ.

This doesn’t necessarily mean any changes are coming to the existing apps. It’s simply a rebranding that comes with a new name and logo and a few additional features.

The first change that we will begin to see is coming to Office.com. Microsoft is rebranding Office.com to fit the new Microsoft 365 name in November.

After that, Microsoft plans on changing the branding around the Office app on Windows, Android, and iOS. That change is coming a little later, in January.

In addition to the standard Office apps, Microsoft 365 will include Microsoft Teams, Stream, Clipchamp, and the company’s new Designer app.

With all the apps organized in one place, this should hopefully make it easier to organize all of your Microsoft content across mobile and computer.

For those who already subscribe to Microsoft Office in one way or another, there will be no real change when the rebranding occurs. Your subscription will stay the same, but you’ll start to see the new branding.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

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Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

The post Microsoft Office is rebranding to Microsoft 365 appeared first on KnowTechie.

The previous device was released four years ago. Microsoft didn’t change the design this time, opting to modernize the hardware it runs on and add some new ports.

The biggest draw of the all-in-one is the flexible hinge, which easily repositions the screen for your needs. Microsoft didn’t do anything to that, so read on to find out what they improved.

All of the Surface Studio 2+ improvements are under the surface

The Surface Studio 2+ is powered by an 11th Gen Intel Core i7-11370H processor paired with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 laptop GPU with 6GB of GDDR6 memory. It has 32GB of system RAM and a 1TB solid-state drive.

The display is still a 28-inch Pixel Sense panel with a 4500 x 3000 resolution at a 3:2 ratio. What has changed on the screen is that it now supports Dolby Vision with compatible content.

The screen is also pressure sensitive and works with the Surface Pen.

You now get modern connectivity options, with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1. The 1080p webcam is the same, but it now has a pair of far-field Studio mics and Dolby Atmos speakers.

Microsoft has also changed the port configuration on the base. It used to have four USB-A ports, 1 USB-C, and an SD card reader.

Now you get three USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 support, two USB-A 3.1 ports, a headphone jack, and Gigabit Ethernet.

The Surface Studio 2+ also works with the Surface Dial, but you’ll have to purchase that separately for $99.99.

You can preorder the Surface Studio 2+ from Microsoft, starting from $4,499.99. Retail availability is October 25.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

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Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

The post Microsoft’s Surface Studio 2+ is stuffed with new hardware appeared first on KnowTechie.

Your choices include Intel’s latest 12th-gen processor, a huge improvement over the surface 8’s processor options. Or you could go with Microsoft’s own SQ 3 Arm chip.

The difference between the two comes down to internet connection options. With Intel’s 12th-gen processor, the Surface 9 Pro will only be able to connect to the internet via WiFi.

However, if you go with the SQ 3 Arm chip, you’ll have cellular 5G capabilities on your Surface 9 Pro, making it much more versatile.

Of course, this comes with a tradeoff. Intel’s processors are more established and work seamlessly with Windows. The SQ chips, on the other hand, have had a history of not playing well with some Windows apps.

In addition to the new processor upgrades, the Surface Pro 9 features a few additional improvements over its predecessor.

The 1080P webcam has been improved, and you have more colors to choose from, including Sapphire, Forest, Platinum, and Graphite.

When it comes to price, there’s a lot of variation between different versions. The tablet with a base-level, Intel i5 12th-generation processor starts at $999 with 128GB of storage.

The 5G equipped model with the SQ 3 Arm processor starts at $1,300 with similar specs. You can preorder the new Surface Pro 9 starting today, and they will begin shipping on October 25.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

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The post Microsoft’s Surface Pro 9 lets you pick from two different processors appeared first on KnowTechie.

On top of that, users are getting some new security and accessibility tools that help improve their experience across the board.

Once you’ve updated, you’ll probably be wondering what’s new. We’re going to run down all the new features that you’ll want to check out.

Here’s what the Windows 11 2022 Update contains

Windows 11 has new ways to use Snap Layouts, which automatically arrange the windows you have open on your desktop. They’re also easier to use with touch controls, and you can snap multiple browser tabs in Microsoft Edge.

One of the most requested features is tabs in File Explorer. Microsoft says it wasn’t quite ready for the major update but will get added in October.

The Start Menu is also improving, including grouping apps into folders, then pin the folders. A new Focus mode silences notifications when on, so you can get work done without interruption.

The Clipchamp video editor is now available, as well. This is an in-browser creation tool that Microsoft purchased last year.

Accessibility options

Microsoft is making an effort to make computing easier for everyone. One part of this is through system-wide captioning.

That’s a big thing to improving accessibility on Windows and will work even if the app playing video doesn’t support captions. If you have a microphone set up, the captioning even works with in-person conversations.

It’s also got more natural-sounding voices for Narrator, the built-in screen reader. Many common tasks can also be done via voice commands.

Better gaming

Microsoft Edge now has a gaming hub, which has personalized news, your gaming history, and access to Xbox Cloud Gaming. Your PC is getting closer to being an Xbox every day.

Windows 11 is also adding a new feature to the Xbox Game Bar, the “controller bar.” It shows your most recently played or installed games when you’re not already in a game. When in a game, the Xbox Game Bar still appears as normal.

The update also improves Auto HDR and Variable Refresh by enabling them in windowed mode and boosts gaming performance by reducing display latency.

If you’re using an HDR monitor, there is a new HDR Calibration tool you’ll want to check out.

Other features you might want to know about

Microsoft already packed tons of features into the first Windows 11 feature update. But there are a few more coming in October.

For one, more context-sensitive options when copying data is on the way. One example is if you select a phone number, Windows might ask if you want to make a Teams call.

Then, a new menu in the taskbar will hold additional apps, so you don’t get a crowded jumble at the bottom of your screen.

Finally, a revamped Photos app that supports auto backup to OneDrive is coming, and a new Memories feature to surface older images.

So, the question is: are you going to upgrade? If you are still on Windows 10, is this laundry list of new features enough to get you to make the switch finally?

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

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The post New Windows 11 update rolling out now – here’s what’s new appeared first on KnowTechie.

The update brings a whole bunch of new features and tools to the Windows operating system. So, how do you get the new update?

Windows should download the update automatically and prompt you to install it. That’s true for most cases, but we know Windows doesn’t always do what it’s supposed to.

If you want the Windows 11 2022 Update right now, here’s how to manually update.

How to update your PC to the Windows 11 2022 Update

Now you’re all updated and on the Windows 11 2022 Update. This update has multiple new productivity, accessibility, and security features, along with some other goodies.

We’ll follow up with coverage of exactly what’s included and how to use some of the new features. But for a complete rundown on everything Microsoft included in the update, head on over to the company’s blog post here.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

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The post How to download the Windows 11 2022 Update appeared first on KnowTechie.

KrebsOnSecurity says that zero-day has been used in the wild and could put any Windows computer at risk. That risk is greater now after Microsoft released details alongside the patch.

Another issue in the Windows TCP/IP service that handles network addresses could take over Windows machines without user interaction. That’s as bad as it sounds.

All modern operating systems have bugs and security issues. Microsft is pretty proactive about fixing issues, leaving bad actors less of a window to act in.

If you’re running any version of Windows from 7 onwards, go update your computer. Otherwise, you’re potentially at risk.

Go update your Windows PC

The biggest issue fixed in this month’s security updates is CVE-2022-37969. Microsoft confirmed this as actively exploited, so you want to update your PC.

This zero-day issue affects all Windows versions from 7 through the current version 11. It also affects Windows Server 2008 and 2012.

Microsoft says this bug could let attackers take control of your computer, so it’s wise to update. Your computer might already have installed them if you had automatic updates set.

If not, it’s time to go check for the updates. To update Windows, click on Start > Settings > Windows Update.

BleepingComputer has the full list of the 63 security fixes in this patch. Again, you’ll want to update your computer if you’re running Windows.

We recommend installing the update as soon as possible. Microsoft has issued details of the vulnerabilities alongside the patch.

Now bad actors know it’s a race against time to exploit them before users install the updates.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

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The post Windows users: update your PCs to fix 63 security issues appeared first on KnowTechie.

Other users have reported the same and have left poor one-star reviews to register their displeasure over the new development.

Speaking to The Verge, Microsoft’s spokesperson, Caitlin Roulston said, “For free users of Outlook, ads are shown in their inbox and they can choose to enable the ‘Focused inbox’ feature if they would like to see ads only in the ‘Other’ inbox.”

More and more ads in the Microsoft Outlook app

While using the Microsoft Outlook app, you can choose a single inbox for all your messages or split it into ‘Focused’ and ‘Other’ folders. More ads are also being cited in the Office app for Android.

Previously, ads were only shown in the ‘Other’ inbox for free users. But, for the last couple of months, ads have started appearing in the single inbox.

The easiest way to escape these ads is to become a paid Microsoft 365 subscriber. Alternatively, you can choose the two inbox options and move all your important stuff to the ‘Focused’ folder. Argh!

Ads everywhere

Microsoft, which only recently released Outlook Lite, has come under heavy attacks over its new ad practices.

More annoying is the fact that the Outlook ads resemble regular emails. Plus, when you delete them, more resurface to take their place.

From app stores to social media, users are complaining and saying no to more Microsoft Outlook ads in their inboxes.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

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Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

The post Microsoft Outlook app showing more ads on iOS and Android appeared first on KnowTechie.

This means that the weather widget, which was previously removed, then restored, will now display animated notifications instead of the old static notifications.

This new feature can be handy in warning you of impending bad weather when planning a trip or an outing. The change is also coming to widgets like Finance and Breaking news.

The new Windows 11 widgets

The new Windows 11 taskbar notifications system with dynamic content was announced in a Microsoft support article.

Apart from the animated weather widget notifications, you can also expect to see live content from other widgets. These notifications can include stock market announcements or live scores from a soccer match.

This way, you don’t have to leave your current task to catch up with the stock market or the sports game. All you have to do is simply check your widget notifications.

While this appears to be a welcome development, it does raise concerns about distraction. As of the time of writing, there’s no good way to mute these notifications.

What you can do, however, is ignore them if you can. If you do, they’ll go away. Alternatively, you can drag your widget board to a location where the notifications won’t distract you. You may also try working offline for a bit.

Not for everyone, though

According to Microsoft, these changes will not be available for Windows 11 SE. For supported versions, however, keep your eyes peeled for the new changes as they will become available in the coming days or weeks.

Early last year, similar changes to the weather and news widgets were announced for Windows 10. This was months before Microsoft restored the weather widget in Windows 11.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

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Launched in August 2007, Microsoft OneDrive has come a long way. To mark its 15th anniversary, Microsoft is introducing four new features to OneDrive.

These features are all focused on improving the usability of OneDrive, and should make for a smoother experience when searching for things. Let’s dive into the updates.

1. New OneDrive Home page

OneDrive is getting a new OneDrive Home page. It will become the new default landing page upon its release.

Presently, if you log into your OneDrive account, by default, you’ll land on your My files page. Your My files page houses your documents, pictures, and files.

The new OneDrive Home dashboard will resemble that of Microsoft Office. It will also present your files similar to Google Drive, in that you’ll see the most recently updated files first.

In addition, it will allow you to filter your files by file type, that is, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and PDF respectively.

2. New OneDrive Quick access menu

OneDrive is also getting a new Quick access menu which is located in the left-side panel just underneath the Home section.

Here, you can quickly find and access your favorite spaces. You can also expand the list view by clicking on More.

3. New Activity column in OneDrive

The new OneDrive Home comes with an additional Activity column which is located to your far right just after the Owner column.

The Activity column lets you see the most recent activity on any shared file. For instance, it can alert you when someone shares a file, creates a task for you, comments on a task, or when someone @mentions you or other collaborators.

4. OneDrive Photo Story

In addition, Microsoft is also rolling out the OneDrive Photo story to OneDrive mobile app users in Australia. Photo story allows you to privately share photos and videos.

According to The Verge, this feature will not be reaching users in the US and other regions until later this year.

Microsoft is slowly, but surely improving OneDrive

Although these new OneDrive features are small and still on their way, Microsoft is obviously serious about improving the OneDrive experience for users.

It will be interesting to see how well these changes are accepted once they go live in the coming months. On top of that, we’re wondering if Microsoft doesn’t have more plans (maybe price updates?) in the works, as well.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

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The post Microsoft revamps OneDrive with a new look and more features appeared first on KnowTechie.

But Windows 11 isn’t necessarily for everyone. There’s a chance that upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11 could bring performance problems to your PC.

Or maybe you’ve purchased a new computer or laptop that came with Windows 11, and you’re not a fan of the new operating system.

So is it possible to revert back to Windows 11 after you’ve upgraded? And what about new machines? Can a PC that came with Windows 11 be downgraded to Windows 10? Here’s what you need to know.

Can you revert Windows 11 back to Windows 10?

Short answer: Yes, but it might take some work.

Downgrading to Windows 10 isn’t necessarily as easy as you might think. When Microsoft releases a new operating system, it tries its best to get everyone to adopt the new system as soon as possible.

That being said, there are ways that you can revert Windows 11 back to Windows 10. In fact, the first method isn’t really that difficult. But it is only available if you have upgraded to Windows 11 within the last 10 days.

How to revert back to Windows 10 within the 10-day limit

If you’re on a Windows 10 system and upgrade to Windows 11, Microsoft gives you 10 days to decide if you want to go back to Windows 10. And fortunately, that process is relatively simple.

After completing those steps, your computer will restart and begin the recovery process to reinstall Windows 10. Just follow the prompts that you see and your system will eventually finish reinstalling Windows 10.

After 10 days, you’ll have to perform a clean install

If you’re on a new system or are past the 10-day upgrade window, reverting back to Windows 10 is a bit tougher. If you’re in that situation, you will actually have to do a fresh install of Windows 10 on your PC to go back.

This is a much more involved process that requires a bit more computer knowledge. Microsoft IT expert Kapil Arya has a detailed guide for how you can do that. But keep in mind that this process is somewhat difficult, so make sure you’re prepared for the task.

Windows 11 is great and will only get better in time

So there you go. You most certainly can revert Windows 11 back to Windows 10, no matter the device. Just keep in mind that, unless you’ve recently upgraded within 10 days, the process can be a bit tedious.

Additionally, it’s important to remember that Microsoft will continue to update the operating system to improve aspects that may be lacking. If you haven’t noticed any issues with Windows 11, you are probably fine to stay on it.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

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Pages may scroll up when they should go down and down when they should go up. The resulting confusion can seriously disrupt your workflow.

Fortunately, you don’t have to put with the default direction.

While touchpad scroll settings are easy enough to alter, modifying your mouse requires a little more intel and a quest into the registry. But it’s not as difficult as it sounds.

Let’s discuss how to change the mouse and touchpad scroll direction in Windows 11.

How to change scrolling direction for touchpad in Windows 11

When it comes to touchpad settings, you’re in luck, as the process only requires a couple of steps. Here’s how to change your touchpad scroll direction:

1. Launch the Settings app

2. Go to Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad

3. Select Scroll & zoom in the Gestures & interaction section

4. Set Scroll direction to either Down motion scrolls up or Down motion scrolls down

Now you know where to go to change the scrolling direction of your touchpad in Windows 11. But what if you’re using a mouse?

How to change scrolling direction for the mouse in Windows 11

Unfortunately, Windows 11 doesn’t allow you to reverse the mouse scroll direction through the settings.

You can, however, edit the registry to make the required change. But first, you must confirm the identification number for your mouse.

How to confirm mouse identification number

Here’s how to find your mouse’s VID ID number:

1. Search Device Manager via the taskbar search tool and open the app

2. Expand the Mice and other pointing devices section by clicking the Disclosure triangle

3. Right-click the currently connected mouse and select Properties

4. Select the Details tab

5. Click the drop-down box and select Device instance path

6. Note the VID ID, which will be something like VID_203A&PID_FFFC&MI_01

With the VID ID confirmed, you’re ready to roll into the registry and make the changes needed to reverse your mouse’s scroll direction.

How to reverse mouse scroll direction in Windows 11

Here’s how to change the mouse scroll direction in the Windows registry:

If you want to restore the default scroll direction, you can follow the same steps, but you’ll need to change the FlipFlopWheel value to 0.

What’s the best scroll direction to use?

The best scroll direction is the one that feels the most natural to you—and that may not be the one labeled “natural.” Really, the choice is yours.

Windows doesn’t make changing the mouse scroll direction easy—perhaps Microsoft assumes it knows best—but fiddling with the registry will get you the desired results.

You may even find that the setting you prefer for a touchpad doesn’t feel right for a mouse, which is why separating the settings is important, Apple.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

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There were a total of six years between the release of Windows 10 and Windows 11. However, before that transition, Microsoft was a little quicker with its new OS releases.

Prior to Windows 11, there were usually only around three or fewer years between new versions.

But what about this time around? Windows 11 has been received pretty well by the general public, so will it last an extra long time, like Windows 10? Or will Microsoft go back to releasing its operating systems more frequently?

So when is Windows 12 coming out?

Short answer: 2024, probably.

While there isn’t any confirmed date from Microsoft about when Windows 12 will come out, current speculation points to 2024, putting the operating system on a 3-year development cycle.

A report from Windows Central alleges the new, 3-year development process for Windows. According to the publication, Microsoft is also planning to ramp up the delivery of its new feature updates.

Instead of delivering Windows updates twice a year, once in the fall and once in the summer, the OS will now issue updates every few months, up to four times per year.

So, while we may not get a full, new version of Windows as soon as we thought, we should be getting new feature updates for Windows 11 more often.

Of course, this is all still speculation at this point. Microsoft itself hasn’t said anything about a Windows 12 release, so we should take this news with a grain of salt.

As is the case with any sort of major development like this, everything is still subject to change. Chances are, we won’t know an exact release schedule for Windows 12 until the operating system’s arrival is imminent.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

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The post Windows 12 release date — when is it coming out? appeared first on KnowTechie.

As a stripped-down version of the Outlook mobile app, Outlook Lite will not only be lightweight, but it will also be light on features.

Outlook Lite should be available to everyone in July 2022. However, some users have already been enrolled in the new Outlook Lite through early access. 

Some key features of Outlook Lite for Android

There’s Microsoft documentation detailing some key features of the new Outlook Lite. For instance, you won’t be able to sign in to your Outlook account via Gmail, Yahoo, or any non-Outlook service.

This is because Outlook Lite currently only supports Microsoft 365, Microsoft Exchange, Hotmail, Live, MSN, and Outlook accounts. You also can’t add more than one account at the moment until future updates arrive with multi-account support.

Dark Mode and Event reminders are also not currently supported but will be available in future updates. 

The current Outlook app on Android clocks in at 57 MB pre-installation. Outlook Lite, on the other hand, is expected to be smaller and as a result, faster. 

Look out for the new Outlook Lite app

In addition to Outlook Lite for Android, Microsoft is also working on unifying Outlook’s codebases across Web, Windows, and Mac to offer a more streamlined experience across the board.

The new Outlook Lite is primarily aimed at low-end devices on any available network. Will this app appeal to users at the other end of the spectrum with high-end devices and better network connectivity?

Outlook is not the first app to go Lite. Several other popular apps, including Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram, all have Lite versions.

Facebook Lite currently has over a billion downloads. Lite versions are great for people on data limits and with lower-end devices. Will Microsoft find an audience with Outlook Lite? Time will tell.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

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