r/Windows11 • • 3d ago

Help Simple questions and Help thread - Month of October

7 Upvotes

Welcome to the monthly Simple questions and Help thread, for questions that don't need their own posts!

Before making a comment, we recommend you search your problem on Bing and check if your question is already answered on our Windows Frequently Asked Questions wiki page. This subreddit no longer accepts tech support requests outside of this post, if you are looking for additional assistance try r/TechSupport and r/WindowsHelp.

Some examples of questions to ask:

  • Is this super cheap Windows key legitimate? (probably not)

  • How can I install Windows 11?

  • Can you recommend a program to play music?

  • How do I get back to the old Sound Control Panel?

Sorting by New is recommend and is the default.



r/Windows11 • • 26d ago

Official News Cumulative Updates: September 8th, 2026

Thumbnail support.microsoft.com
112 Upvotes

Changelists linked here for your convenience:

EDIT - an Out of Band update has now been released for version 24H2 / 25H2, fixing a few reported issues: September 14, 2026—KB5129195 (OS Builds 26200.9457 and 26100.9457) Out-of-band | Microsoft Support

General info:

For details about how to file problem reports and collect traces, please see here: http://aka.ms/HowToFeedback. Pressing WIN + F will open the Feedback Hub - please include as much detail as possible about what you're seeing.

To learn about the different types of updates, see here: Windows quality updates primer - Microsoft Community Hub

As a reminder, if you didn't install the previous optional updates, this update includes those changes too (some are still rolling out, as denoted in the release notes):

For published known issues, please check the release health dashboard: Windows release health | Microsoft Learn.

As mentioned in the linked changelist, Windows 11, version 26H1 is available only on new devices with select new silicon as they come to market starting early 2026. Devices running earlier versions of Windows 11 will not be offered an update to version 26H1 through Windows Update and cannot be installed as an in-place update on existing devices.


r/Windows11 • • 6h ago

News "Rising cost of memory," Microsoft explains why Windows 11 will use less RAM

Thumbnail
windowslatest.com
99 Upvotes

r/Windows11 • • 10h ago

Feature Tip of the Week: You can drag and drop recycle bin to pin it to quick access in File Explorer, if you want to hide your desktop icons and still see it

Post image
68 Upvotes

r/Windows11 • • 16h ago

News Tested: Microsoft cloned Outlook Classic's look into a New Outlook theme, instead of building a native Windows 11 app

Thumbnail
windowslatest.com
182 Upvotes

r/Windows11 • • 22h ago

Discussion What's the difference between these two?

Post image
13 Upvotes

So I'm noticing this in 26H2: when I press Print Screen or Win+Shift+S, this option comes up. I'm confused cause it looks the same, except the Snipping Tool has more options, like the eyedropper tool. Which one do you prefer?


r/Windows11 • • 13h ago

Suggestion for Microsoft Feedback - Allow the reversal of icons on the taskbar

Thumbnail aka.ms
0 Upvotes

Pretty much the title really, allow the reversal of the icons on the taskbar, following the recent update that allows the repositioning of the taskbar. Similar to the control center in Gnome on linux, this would place the time and battery icon at the top of the taskbar, should you wish for that option.

Purely cosmetic change i would assume, but would be nice


r/Windows11 • • 1d ago

Suggestion for Microsoft Navigation sidebar in Photos is annoying!

Post image
21 Upvotes

Why do i have to minimize it everytime?

It takes up one-third of the space in this app...


r/Windows11 • • 1d ago

Discussion What to expect from Windows 11 in 2027?

Post image
288 Upvotes

So 2026 was a good year for Windows 11 (finally). What do you think/know that will arrive on 2027?

I hope they keep debloating the OS and adding new features (features the community wants, not Microsoft wants......). And it would be about time to fully move the OS to WinUI 3 too.


r/Windows11 • • 1d ago

Feature Feedback: Support in-place version downgrades when leaving Windows Insider

Thumbnail aka.ms
0 Upvotes

Leaving the Insider program currently leaves users stuck on higher build numbers without a supported way to move back to a lower stable release without a clean install. I submitted feedback regarding this on Feedback Hub.


r/Windows11 • • 2d ago

Official News Announcing Windows 11 Insider Beta Preview Build 26220.9587 - Windows Insider Program

Thumbnail
learn.microsoft.com
43 Upvotes

r/Windows11 • • 2d ago

Official News Announcing Windows 11 Insider Experimental Preview Build 26340.9596 - Windows Insider Program

Thumbnail
learn.microsoft.com
44 Upvotes

r/Windows11 • • 2d ago

Official News Announcing Windows 11 Insider Experimental (Future Platforms) Preview Build 29680.1000 - Windows Insider Program

Thumbnail
learn.microsoft.com
25 Upvotes

r/Windows11 • • 2d ago

Discussion So... Im the only one who loves GameBar?

Post image
14 Upvotes

I like to play on PC with controller and this app is the best, fast to use, open, close games, make screenshots and really aesthetic. I would like more customization, like background color change, instead of 3 having 5 games on the list or the possibility to pin games on the bottom where Steam and Xbox are.

IMO highly underrated feature from users and microsoft.


r/Windows11 • • 2d ago

Official News Announcing Windows 11 Insider Experimental (26H1) Preview Build 28120.3151

Thumbnail
learn.microsoft.com
22 Upvotes

r/Windows11 • • 2d ago

Official News Announcing Windows 11 Insider Beta (26H1) Preview Build 28020.3142

Thumbnail learn.microsoft.com
17 Upvotes

r/Windows11 • • 2d ago

Suggestion for Microsoft MS Windows 11: Is there any way to move windows back/behind other windows?

Post image
19 Upvotes

We can only move windows forward. Hotkeys or menu options (like the above) to push windows back is what I want.


r/Windows11 • • 2d ago

New Feature - Insider Windows 11 Insider Preview Quality Update (Friday)

Post image
1 Upvotes

Version 26340.9596 is out, which is the Friday release even though Microsoft Releases these on Tuesday's.


r/Windows11 • • 3d ago

Feature NeoFetch for Windows 11

Post image
57 Upvotes

r/Windows11 • • 2d ago

Concept / Design So... I use Windows btw.

Post image
7 Upvotes

r/Windows11 • • 3d ago

Discussion Is this a real windows 11 spec page?

Post image
209 Upvotes

Looking to a buy a pc and this was included in the post but to me it seems 100% fake


r/Windows11 • • 2d ago

Discussion Changed icons in start menu

Post image
10 Upvotes

The new update shipped with a change to the appearance of the start menu, with the search results now showing up with translucent boxes with rounded corners surrounding every app icon- even the ones already square, and with rounded corners.
I don't like this look at all, with all app icons looking smaller.


r/Windows11 • • 3d ago

Discussion Upgrade to 25H2 or 26H2 from 23H2?

Post image
107 Upvotes

So, I've been happily trudging along the last few years on my 23H2 install of Windows 11.
I used Policy to block 24H2 (or anything above 23H2) due to 24H2's reputation for breaking everything on my PC hardware (video, sound, etc).
I also skipped 25H2 because size increased about 2GB which was all attributed to Copilot and AI models for Copilot. I don't want any of that crap on my PC.
But, I'm now pushing 3 years out of date on the major.
I'm also about to migrate to a new 4TB nVME, and I'm thinking I should probably upgrade as part of the process. Everyone is also talking about how smooth and quick 26H2 is.

My PC is an i9-9900KF with 128GB of RAM
The mobo only has TPM 1 chip, so I had to REG hack to initially install Win 11.
If it matters, I only have local accounts, and do not participate in the Microsoft Account trash. Microsoft Account logins are disabled through Policy.

So.... Should I:

  • migrate and stay with 23H2, where I know I have no issues,
  • migrate and update to 25H2, possibly using the enablement package to go to 26H2 later, or
  • migrate and update to 26H2 and be done with it?

I'll have the old nVME drive as a backup image, so I can always go back to 23H2.

Not looking for "tech support here", just to know if it's possible:
Is there any way to keep Copilot and other crap Microsoft likes to force on us from installing in this upgrade?
The 26H2 ISO is 3.5GB larger than the 23H2 ISO.
That's a lot of junk I'm just going to remove later. It'd be easier if it just wasn't installed in the first place.
I know there are multiple tutorials for removing Copilot, but it changes every revision of Windows.

TL;DR
I feel I need to update Windows 11 to current, and now is probably a good time, but I'm really not interested in Copilot and its 3GB of associated baggage.


r/Windows11 • • 3d ago

Discussion Is this panel customizable in the new 2026 H2 update ?

Post image
50 Upvotes

Just came from W10 and found out I can't customize it anymore.


r/Windows11 • • 3d ago

Discussion How do i make the bars on top of apps look like the windows xp ones? is there any way besides window blinds?

Post image
12 Upvotes