Windows update news

Microsoft says one bad driver can crash all of Windows, and Intel’s Windows 11 26H2-ready GPU drivers are next to get the fix. The issue affects Windows PCs that rely on Intel graphics drivers. Microsoft is also updating its driver quality checks, so users should keep Windows Update and Intel’s driver updates installed when they become available.

Microsoft has paused the Copilot entry on the Windows 11 taskbar. The change affects people who use the Search box, which had been turned into an Ask Copilot shortcut. Microsoft says it is doing this to incorporate feedback. Windows 11 users who saw the Copilot button in Search should no longer see it while the company works on the change.

Windows 11’s October update adds several new features, including changes to maximized apps, File Explorer, WinRE Wi‑Fi, and Copilot key options. It affects Windows 11 users installing the update, and it may change how some built-in tools work.

Microsoft’s Windows App can now connect directly to remote PCs, closing a major gap left by the move away from Remote Desktop. The change affects Windows users who rely on remote access, especially people connecting to work PCs or home machines. If you use the app, you can now try the direct connection feature instead of relying on the older Remote Desktop path.

Microsoft has explained what is actually new in Windows 11 26H2 and how to check it. The update mostly turns on features your PC may already have received through monthly updates, and it also changes some defaults on work PCs. If you want to verify the update, check build 26300 in Settings or with winver.

Microsoft is holding a special Windows and Surface event on October 7. The keynote could bring something meaningful for Windows and Surface users, although the summary does not say exactly what will be announced. If you follow Windows hardware and features, this is the event to watch.

Windows 11 26H2 has quietly shipped with a performance boost. Microsoft rolled up months of performance work into the update, including a Low Latency Profile for app launches. The change affects Windows 11 users on 26H2, and the summary says apps such as WhatsApp, Teams, Outlook and 4K YouTube stayed under 90% RAM use in testing. No action is mentioned, but the update is the one to watch if you want better responsiveness.

Windows 11’s File Explorer is getting a new shortcut that sends the squiggly ~ key straight to the user folder. The update will let people open folders like their user profile, Documents, Downloads, and sometimes AppData more quickly. This affects Windows 11 users who work with file paths in File Explorer. If you use AppData often, the change should make it easier to reach without typing the full path.

Windows 11 has broken a long-standing Shift+click scrollbar shortcut in WinUI apps, including Notepad. The issue affects users of Windows 11 and apps built on WinUI, while Electron, Win32 and WPF still support the shortcut. A GitHub bug is open, and Microsoft is still patching missing WinUI basics.

Microsoft says Windows 11 26H2 is crashing some games and apps. The issue affects some PCs running the update, and Microsoft says it will fix the problem in the next update.

Microsoft says Windows 11 will use less RAM as it responds to rising memory costs. The change affects Windows 11 users, especially on PCs with 8GB of RAM, and Microsoft has made 8GB PC optimization official. Microsoft also explained why Windows 11 uses so much memory and said it is working on fixes.