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Major WSL update brings automatic VHD shrinking, mirrored networking, and more
WSL's September 2023 pre-release update brings a number of exciting features including improved networking, firewall, and automatic VHD shrinking.
Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is a handy utility present in Windows 10 and Windows 11 that allows developers to run GNU/Linux environments directly inside the operating system without requiring virtual machines (VMs) or dual-boot configurations. The implementation became generally available via the Microsoft Store about a year ago, making it easier for interested users to install it quickly. Now, Microsoft has rolled out a new pre-release version of WSL with a lot of interesting, experimental features.
How to download and install Windows 11
Curious to check out Microsoft's new operating system? Here's how you can download Windows 11 right now to try it for yourself.
Windows 11 has been out for nearly two years, and for many of us, it's already old news, but it's still a great operating system. The initial release of Windows 11 brought a brand-new design language, a new Start menu, and other changes, and newer updates have come out to add even more. With releases like version 22H2 and the upcoming version 23H2, Windows 11 keeps getting better. But even though it's getting more popular, many of us are still installing Windows 11 for the first time.
Paint on Windows 11 moves closer to Photoshop with layer support
The paint app in Windows 11 is getting a bit more sophisticated, as Microsoft appears to be testing a new layers feature that you'd get in Photoshop
The Windows 11 Paint app is moving closer to replacing Photoshop for your photo editing needs. Microsoft is apparently testing a new layers feature in the Paint app, letting you use the app as an actual canvas for all your creation needs. The feature is currently rolling out to Dev and Canary Channel Windows Insiders.
How to install Pip on Windows
Pip and Python go hand-in-hand to help you execute both simple and complex programs.
Pip is one of the most important tools to have at your disposal when you're getting started with a Python project. It allows you to install and manage millions of Python packages and libraries to help you set up the right software environment for a project, be it a simple automation task or a complex artificial intelligence or machine learning project. But how do you install Pip on Windows to ensure you have no issues working on Python projects? Thankfully, installing Pip on Windows is a fairly simple task, and you can do it following a few simple steps. There's also a chance that you may already have Pip installed on your system, so read on to learn more about it.
How to optimize Windows 11 for gaming
If you're a PC gamer, casual, or serious, there are a few settings you can change in Windows 11 to ensure your PC is optimized for gaming.
Windows 11 is a great operating system for productivity, thanks to features like Snap Layouts, Android apps, and WSL. The best laptops and desktop computers out there let you do all kinds of work with Windows 11. But if it's gaming that you're planning on doing, then we have some suggestions for how you can make your PC even better. You can turn on Windows 11's dedicated Game Mode to optimize performance for digital gaming, tweak Windows 11's security measures to free up your CPU and RAM for gaming, and so much more.
How to hide the taskbar in Windows 11
The taskbar can be a useful tool in Windows 11, but at times, it just gets in the way. Here's how to hide it.
Microsoft gave its famous operating system a facelift when it redesigned Windows 11, so you might find the feel to be both familiar and different. One area where Microsoft made a few changes was the taskbar, where the design and positioning of items are slightly different from what you'd find on Windows 10.
How to use Threads on desktop in Windows, Mac, Linux, and ChromeOS
No need to wait for the official Threads desktop client!
Unless you've been living under a rock, you've probably heard of Threads by now. Meta’s latest social media app is unapologetically a Twitter (or X) competitor, and it's deeply interconnected with Instagram to create an amalgamation of the two. However, access to Threads was only possible through its official iOS and Android apps when it launched. There was no proper web interface at the beginning, although you could directly go to a user's profile.
Our Windows computers are great at locating files and folders in an instant, but that’s not always to our benefit. Sometimes, there’s content on our PC that we want to keep tucked away from prying eyes. Search tools like File Explorer can make any file visible with just a few typed characters, but thankfully, there are a few system customizations you can make to hide certain files and folders. Here are a few of our go-to methods for hiding those treasured bytes in Windows 11.
Windows 11 features in preview: Everything you can try right now
Windows 11 is on the way, but you can try some of its features right now. These are all the Windows 11 features currently in preview.
Windows 11 first showed its face on June 24, 2021, and became officially available on Oct. 5 of that same year. Today, most laptops sold come with Windows 11 installed out of the box, but the Windows development cycle never stops, and there's always something to look forward to. That's where the Windows Insider Program comes into play, as it lets fans try out new Windows 11 features in preview before anybody else.
Windows 11 Photos app gets background blur and motion photo support
The Windows 11 Photos app is getting background blue features, and the Snipping Tool is also getting text actions for Canary and Dev insiders
Microsoft is rolling out two big updates for some core Windows 11 apps. Windows Insiders in the Canary and the Dev Channels can now test background blur in the Windows 11 Photos app. Also up for testing are new updates for the Snipping Tool, which now can allow you to copy text from your screen captures.
Windows 11 update tracker: Download and install the latest update
Now that Microsoft has released Windows 11 via stable channel, we're tracking all the updates
Keeping Windows up to date will ensure that you’ve got the least buggy version of the OS. When it comes to Windows 11, Microsoft has opted for the one update per year strategy, although it continues to make available regular patches and fixes throughout the year to address known issues. New feature sets, such as the Moment 3 release, are also being seeded through the Windows Update framework. This article will serve as the central repository of knowledge base (KB) articles and download links for all updates related to Windows 11.
How to install Jupyter Notebook on Windows
Are you using Jupyter Notebook for part of your coding? You can install it on Windows, and access it via the web in a few steps.
If you're a programmer, data scientist, or anyone who codes you're probably familiar with Jupyter Notebook. This is a web-based interactive development environment. It's pretty flexible, so you might want to know how you can use it on the latest version of Windows 11. Even though it is a web-based interface, Jupyter Notebook works best when paired with Anaconda, which will assist in downloading Jupyter Notebook and getting you right into the right dependencies.
Microsoft is making Nearby Share easier to use in Windows 11
A tweak in the latest Windows 11 Dev Channel build is making it easier to use Nearby Share
Microsoft today rolled out a new Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 23545 to the Dev Channel. This build is yet again a small one, but it comes with a few changes and one improvement in it is notable. The best example is a tweak to Nearby Share, which makes it easier to quickly give your device a friendly name for sharing. Other than that, it's the usual bug fixes.
Microsoft is one step closer to removing Teams Chat in Windows 11
Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel should notice that Chat is now Microsoft Teams – Free.
Microsoft has released two new Windows 11 Beta channel builds, and the one that's usually all about bringing new features actually removes one. Indeed, Windows Insiders running Windows 11 build 22631.2338 with new features rolling out, should now notice that Microsoft is going one step closer to ditching Teams in Windows 11. In that build, the Chat is now Microsoft Teams – Free. As for Windows 11 Beta Channel build 22621.2338, it's a smaller release with just bug fixes. Both builds are getting a new focus widget.
How to use Dynamic Lighting on Windows 11
Windows 11 has a new feature called Dynamic Lighting to change RGB effects on compatible devices. Here's how to use it.
For the longest time, the only way to change the RGB lighting effects for the peripherals on your Windows 11 PC has been to use the dedicated software from the brand that makes those peripherals. Each of the companies making some of the best gaming keyboards — whether that's Razer, SteelSeries, Corsair, and so on — has its own app, and if you end up buying equipment from different companies, it means you'll also need multiple pieces of software bloating up your device. Thankfully, Windows 11 is finally introducing Dynamic Lighting, a feature that brings together RGB lighting controls to a native Windows 11 interface, so you no longer need all of these apps.
September Windows 11 Patch Tuesday update tweaks the search box gleam, bugs with Sticky Keys
Microsoft has rolled out the September Patch Tuesday update for Windows 11. The update is a small one but it tweaks the search box.
If you're on a laptop or a desktop that runs Windows, it's time to head to Windows Update. Today is Patch Tuesday, which is the day Microsoft rolls out monthly security and bug fixes for Windows 10 and Windows 11. This month's patch is fairly small since it's just bug fixes and security tweaks, but it still is important to grab, so your PC stays secure from the latest threats.
How to update drivers in Windows 11
If you find that a peripheral attached to your PC isn't working right, or a part of your PC isn't working, you'll have to update the drivers.
Drivers are one of the most critical parts of Windows 11. They are what power your laptop and basically any PC. A driver is part of the software on Windows that helps your PC communicate with something that might be connected to it. That could be the display, a USB drive, a keyboard, or even the trackpad.
How to find the specs on your Windows 11 PC
Knowing the specs of your Windows 11 PC can help with troubleshooting, or let you know if you can run certain apps — here's how to find them.
At one point or another, you might need to find the specifications — or specs — of your Windows 11 PC. It can be useful for troubleshooting if you're having issues, or maybe you just want to know if your laptop is compatible with a certain app or able to run a specific game. If you're more tech-savvy, of course, you probably already purchased your PC based on the specs, but that's not the case for everyone.
Upgrade your PC to Windows 11 Pro for the incredibly low price of just $30
Enjoy improved productivity, security, and gaming features with this essential upgrade.
If you've been looking to upgrade you PC with a new version of Windows or needed a copy for a new PC build — this deal's for you. For a limited time, you can snag a copy of Windows 11 Pro for just only $29.97 at the XDA Depot. The price is being reduced by 84%, making this a phenomenal deal. This promotional offer provides access to one license that can be used on up to three devices. Normally, a Windows 11 Pro license will cost $199.99, so be sure to pick this up while you can because the deal's only going to be around for the next few days.
10 useful Windows command line prompts you should try
While you can always use the Windows 11 Settings app or the Task Manager for common things in Windows, the Command Prompt has nifty tricks, too.
These days, you might be used to diving into the Windows 11 Settings app or the Task Manager for things like checking on your disks and even killing unresponsive apps. But, before we had fancy graphical user interfaces on Windows, you had to use the Command Prompt and a command-line environment.