Stop the Slop: 8 Tools That Clean Up Windows 11
If Windows 11 feels cluttered with AI features, ads, and background services, these popular free tools help strip out the bloat, disable telemetry, and give you more control over the OS.
Microsoft confirms "Project Helix," a next-gen Xbox that runs both Xbox and PC games
Early rumors point to an AMD Zen 6 and RDNA 5 chip powering the new console
Capcom's PC sales hit a record 50%, fueled by Steam's global reach
PCs, not consoles, are driving the company's biggest launches
Those cheap Windows and Office keys might come from a federal crime
Florida woman sentenced to 22 months in prison and fined $50,000 in Microsoft product key trafficking case
Windows 11 hits 72% share as Windows 10 fades, but not everyone is happy
End-of-support deadlines and aggressive requirements are pushing some reluctant users forward
Connecting the dots: Windows 11 finally takes over the desktop, but maybe not on Microsoft's preferred terms. StatCounter's latest numbers show Microsoft's latest OS running on nearly three-quarters of Windows desktops worldwide, with Windows 11 at 72.78% and Windows 10 down to 26.27%. It is a sharp swing from only late 2025, when Windows 11 hovered above the 50% mark and Windows 10 still powered nearly half of all machines.
Microsoft clarifies Windows 11 legacy printer driver support after user concerns
Windows Update will no longer distribute new third-party printer drivers
11 Need-To-Know Tools in Microsoft PowerToys
Microsoft PowerToys packs more than 30 utilities into a single toolbox, but not all of them are worth using. These 11 stand out as genuinely useful, and a few others you can safely ignore.
ATMs are getting hacked the old-fashioned way: with keys and USB drives
FBI warns of surge in "jackpotting" attacks, ATMs are spitting out cash by physically loading malware
The Windows XP Bliss wallpaper still exists, and it briefly looks the same again
Clouds must be different because Windows is now going through its darkest times?
Microsoft tests new Windows AI in the taskbar and File Explorer
Latest preview hints that the AI everywhere retreat may only be temporary
Windows 11 keeps adding small conveniences, including speed tests
The latest mandatory public update also fixes Nvidia GPU performance problems
Mozilla Firefox is ending support for Windows 7, this time for real
Mozilla encourages users to upgrade to a newer Windows release, or switch to Linux
Windows Secure Boot certificates are expiring after more than 15 years
Windows 11 and supported Windows 10 PCs will get updates automatically
Windows 11's next security push borrows heavily from smartphones
User Account Control is back with a vengeance: cancel or allow?
Xbox and Windows teams are working with OEMs on a possible 2027 console launch
Next Xbox timeline is still fluid - it's starting to look a lot like a Windows PC
Microsoft is retiring legacy Windows printer drivers, one step at a time
Warnings about the incoming "printocalyplse" have been greatly exaggerated
The takeaway: Microsoft quietly signaled a major shift in how printer drivers would work on Windows nearly three years ago. That plan is now becoming reality, though most older third-party printers won't suddenly stop working anytime soon.
Rufus improves partition formatting, drive detection
Rufus remains one of the easiest and most reliable ways to create bootable USB drives. The tool now does a better job cleaning up partitions before formatting, improves SSD detection with long IDs, and includes several important bug fixes. Longtime users continue to praise Rufus for being fast and lightweight.
Microsoft begins testing Windows 11 26H2 with major fixes and Copilot changes
Windows 11's latest build brings File Explorer and Search into the AI era
Microsoft shifts focus to stabilizing Windows 11 after patch failures
Patch chaos and risky new features are forcing Microsoft into repair mode
Windows 11 hits one billion users in less time than Windows 10
Satya Nadella credits the surge to modernization and OEM momentum
Windows 11 25H2 vs Windows 10: Which is Faster for Gaming?
Microsoft loves to promote Windows 11 25H2's AI features and other improvements, but can it actually game faster than Windows 10? We tested 14 modern titles to find out if the upgrade is worth it.
"Everything" delivers near-instant file search on Windows
Everything is a fast, no-nonsense search utility for Windows that finds files and folders instantly as you type. It builds a lightweight real-time index, stays low on system resources, and is widely praised by users as one of those "can't believe Windows doesn't do this by default" utilities.
Nvidia's long-rumored N1X Arm chip pairs a 20-core CPU with RTX graphics
N1-powered laptops could arrive very soon, next-gen N2 SoC planned for 2027
Windows 95 had a secret restart trick most people never knew
An oft forgotten "feature" in the ancient OS