Tag: Windows 10

Windows 8 Remastered Edition is better than Windows 10

Microsoft took a big gamble with Windows 8. Back in 2012 the tech giant believed that touchscreens were the way we’d all be interacting with our devices, and so overhauled Windows to give it a touch-first design and a Start screen in place of the traditional Start menu — which didn’t go down at all well with the Windows faithful.

Although the company relented and eventually added a Start menu and made various other user-requested tweaks, Windows 8 is viewed by many as one of the worst versions of Windows, which is a little unfair as it had much to recommend it.

8 years on from that operating system’s original launch, Addy Visuals — which previously gave us a vision of what Windows 21 could look like — has created a concept of a remastered version of Windows 8, and it’s great.

His vision of the modern OS has a full-screen Start menu — which will once again divide opinion I’m sure — plus built-in Cortana, and a redesigned File Explorer with tabs.

Addy Visuals’ remastered Windows 8 also introduces the Action Center from Windows10 and a modern Settings experience, plus of course there’s the now expected Dark Theme too.

For lovers of Windows 7 there’s an Aero 8 Theme which makes the OS look more like that.

Personally I like the look of this reimagined Windows 8 — which is referred to as Windows 8.2 in the screenshots — but I’m sure there will be plenty of people who view it less favorably.

What Is an “Optional Quality Update” on Windows 10?

On Windows 10, Windows Update may sometimes offer you an “Optional Quality Update.” Unlike other updates, Windows won’t automatically install these—so what exactly are they? Should you install them?

Windows Update Won’t Automatically Install These

An “optional quality update” is a Windows update that you don’t have to install immediately. These never include security fixes—if an important security patch is available, Windows Update will install it without waiting.

However, some updates are optional. These fix stability issues and other problems in Windows. Some of these may be optional hardware driver updates. You have the choice of whether or not to install these—it’s up to you.

What Is a “Cumulative Update Preview”?

One of the most common optional quality updates is a “cumulative update preview.” Microsoft releases cumulative updates once a month on Patch Tuesday, which is the second Tuesday of each month.

These updates bundle a large number of fixes for various problems in a big package. Rather than releasing a slow drip of updates throughout the month, Microsoft bundles them all into one big update.

These packages are called “cumulative” because they include all the fixes from previous months in a single package. For example, if you haven’t turned a computer on in several months, a single month’s cumulative update will include all the fixes from previous months. Windows only has to install one big update, saving you time and avoiding unnecessary reboots.

Microsoft doesn’t hold every fix for the cumulative update. For example, important security updates are released immediately without waiting.

Near the end of most months, Microsoft offers a “cumulative update preview” in Windows Update. (Microsoft generally skips late December’s cumulative update preview.) These preview updates include all the fixes that will be released to everyone in non-optional form on the next Patch Tuesday.

For example, in November of 2020, Microsoft released the 2020-11 Cumulative Update Preview on November 30, 2020. If you didn’t choose to install it, your PC would get the final, non-preview version of the “cumulative update” a few weeks later on the next Patch Tuesday—in our example, that’s December 8, 2020.

These Are “C” and “D” Updates

By the way, if you’re familiar with Windows update terminology, you may know these preview cumulative updates by a different name. Microsoft calls these “C” and “D” updates, depending on whether they’re released in the third or fourth week of every month.

The final stable cumulative update released the next month is known as a “B” update. That’s because it’s released in the second week of the month.

Preview Updates Make You a Software Tester

The word “preview” is a hint that you’re helping Microsoft test the update by installing it. Microsoft is counting on a large number of people noticing the update and choosing to install it. Microsoft calls people who visit the Windows Update page and choose to manually install updates “seekers” who are looking for updates.

By installing the update only for these motivated “seekers,” Microsoft can see whether the update causes problems on a variety of Windows 10 PCs. If it does, Microsoft can hit the pause button or fix the update before it rolls out to everyone on Patch Tuesday.

Think of these monthly preview updates as similar to Microsoft’s Windows Insider Program. People who want to test new versions of the software can get it early, while people who aren’t eager to install new Windows updates can wait.

Should You Install the Optional Update?

If you’re experiencing a problem with your PC, installing the optional update is a way to get a fix for that issue weeks early. They’re usually pretty stable and are much more stable than early builds of Windows 10 intended for people who opt into the “Windows Insider” testing program.

However, if you’re not experiencing an issue with your PC, you don’t need to install the optional quality update—not unless you want to help Microsoft test it. If you wait a few weeks, your PC will get the same fixes after they’ve undergone additional testing.

How to Install Optional Quality Updates

To check for optional quality updates, head to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. Click “Check for Update” to check for available updates. Windows will install any mandatory updates (including security updates and non-optional cumulative updates) automatically.

If an optional quality update is available, you’ll see a message saying so below the “Check for Updates” button. Click “Download and Install” if you want to install it on your PC.

You can also click “View all optional updates” to see all the optional updates you can install. For example, this list likely includes optional driver updates that might help if you’re experiencing a problem on your PC. However, this button will only appear if optional updates are actually available for your PC.

If you experience a problem with an update, you can head to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > View Update History > Uninstall Updates to remove the update from your Windows 10 PC.

Windows 10 update might be borrowing one of the only good things left in Windows 7

Windows 10 is set to bring back a design feature from the days of Windows 7 when it launches its WinUI 3 update next year. Rounded corners for top-level windows will be making a comeback, representing a change of aesthetic for Microsoft.

Up until Windows 8, Microsoft employed the aero effect and rounded corners for all app windows, but then abandoned this look in favor of sharp corners. Now, according to a comment issued by Microsoft on GitHub, rounded corners will be available for top-level windows and app pop-ups, although the implementation of the rounded corners will ultimately be left up to developers.

Based on a mock-up screenshot of Microsoft Teams, it is clear that the Redmond-based firm is returning to a style reminiscent of the one employed during the Windows 7, Vista and XP eras.

Going back

The decision to return to its former look is part of a raft of changes that will be included as part of a broader Windows 10 design update coming next year, including the launch of the WinUI 3 user interface. WinUI is a native UX platform delivered separately from the operating system, which means it can be updated frequently according to feedback from the developer community.

Windows 10’s new user interface may be available in preview builds by Spring next year, with rounded corners likely to go live in the second half of 2021. It’s also thought that Microsoft might make a few tweaks to the Start Menu and Action Center, taking ideas from WinUI.

The other big design changes coming to Windows 10 affect app icons, which will be more colorful and curved. Given that top-level windows will also be more rounded, it seems like Microsoft is working to have a consistent design in place by sometime next year.

Latest Windows 10 update causes serious problems — what you need to know

This year has not been a good one for Windows 10 updates installing with no problems, and it looks like upgrade woes are far from over with the new KB4586781 cumulative update. 

Having been pushed out to Windows 10 users in November, the update brings in a suite of security improvements and fixes for Microsoft’s ever-evolving operating system. But for some uses it’s throwing up some odd error messages, failing to install, and freezing laptops. 

One such error encountered when applying the update, Windows Latest reported, reads: “Some update files are missing or have problems. We’ll try to download the update again later. Error code: (0x8007000d).”

“Still stuck on 1909. One day an update will be available for me. It’s crazy, Big Sur came out yesterday and my Mac already updated, but my Windows computer is still waiting on the second most recent update,” one Reddit user said. 

But the update also seems to cause other problems such as messing with user settings, with another Reddit user noting: “Recent Windows update at work pissed me off today by obliterating all user settings, dozens of desktop shortcuts and replacing my user login account as though I started it from scratch. I decided to just go home and save the crappy day for Monday.” 

We have the KB4586781 cumulative update installed on a 2018 HP Spectre x360 15, and it now seems to be running fine. However, before it appeared to be installed, the 2-in-1 laptop suddenly blue-screened. Once rebooted, it moved onto the standard screen for when Windows 10 installs an update before it fully boots into the desktop. 

We can’t say for sure if the update did cause this BSOD, but it seems very likely that the crash wasn’t simply a coincidence. And such problems have popped up before on this machine when applying a new Windows 10 update. Luckily, the crash didn’t cause any data loss, but it was still a nasty thing to deal with mid-way through a working day. 

If you are worried about such updates, then you can turn off automatic updates or pause the installation of KB4586781 cumulative update, until a more stable version is released. Just bear in mind that the update does apply some important security features to Windows 10, so by not installing the update you could miss out on those. 

The whole situation and the fact that other 2020 Windows 10 updates have caused problems, is somewhat of an indication that Microsoft might need to apply a little more quality control and testing to its future Windows 10 updates. 

Windows 10 update created a major password problem

Microsoft has detailed a temporary fix for a frustrating Windows 10 bug that prevents software from storing account credentials, meaning the user has to re-enter their username and password each time they log-in.

The flaw is also said to delete cookies held in web browsers, preventing websites from memorizing credentials and serving bespoke content to the user.

First reported in April, the issue is present in specific builds of Windows 10 version 2004 and affects applications such as Outlook, Chrome, Edge, OneDrive and more.

Windows 10 passwords issue

Although users have struggled with the Windows 10 issue for months now, Microsoft has only recently acknowledged the issue in an official capacity in the form of a support notice. 

“After installing Windows 10 Version 2004 Build 19041.173 and related updates you will find that Outlook and other applications do not remember your password anymore,” explained the firm.

“The issue occurs when some Windows 10 Task Scheduler tasks are configured in a certain way. Until a fix is available, a workaround is to disable these tasks using Task Scheduler.”

To implement the temporary fix, right-click the Start Menu, select Windows PowerShell (Admin) and enter the following command: 

“Get-ScheduledTask | foreach { If (([xml](Export-ScheduledTask -TaskName $_.TaskName -TaskPath $_.TaskPath)).GetElementsByTagName(“LogonType”).’#text’ -eq “S4U”) { $_.TaskName } }”

If any tasks are listed in the PowerShell window, note them down and launch the Task Scheduler app. Once you’ve located the relevant tasks, disable them via the right-click drop-down menu. Restarting the affected device should then resolve the issue.

It is not clear at this stage when Microsoft will roll out a full fix for the problem.

What Is the “Windows Feature Experience Pack” on Windows 10?

Windows 10 now has a strange specification named “Experience.” Standard desktop versions of Windows 10 say you have the “Windows Feature Experience Pack” installed. What does that mean? Microsoft is being secretive as always, but here’s what we know.

Another Windows 10 Mystery

If you head to Settings > System > About and scroll down to “Windows specifications,” you’ll see a line named “Experience.” It likely says you have the “Windows Feature Experience Pack” installed.

This section also tells you what edition of Windows 10 you have installed, which update version you have installed, when it was installed, and your OS build number.

We know what all those mean—but what is a “Windows Feature Experience Pack?”

Unfortunately, Microsoft won’t explain it! Microsoft watcher Mary Jo Foley asked Microsoft about it and got a “no comment” from Microsoft. We think we can explain a lot of this anyway.

Some Windows 10 Features Are Part of the Pack

As Foley points out, the Windows Feature Experience Pack is listed as one of many “Features on Demand” in Windows 10. For example, Microsoft Paint is now a “feature on demand.”

This particular feature comes preinstalled with Windows. Microsoft says it “Includes features critical to Windows functionality” and says you should “not remove this package.”

The same documentation says the Windows Feature Experience Pack was first introduced in Windows 10 version 2004—that’s the May 2020 Update.

According to Foley, the pack currently includes features like a snipping tool for taking screenshots and a text input panel. Rather than being part of the base version of Windows 10 itself, these features are part of this “pack” that is preinstalled. Microsoft may move more features from Windows 10 itself to this “features on demand” pack.

Most of these “features on demand” are listed under Settings > Apps > Apps & features > Optional features, but the installed “Experience Pack” doesn’t appear here.

Tracking Down Clues in the Windows Store

So, why does this Feature Experience Pack even exist? Why not just leave these features in Windows 10 proper?

Well, Microsoft won’t say, but we definitely have some ideas. Take a look at this: The Microsoft Store has a listing for a “Windows Feature Experience Pack” and a separate “Windows 10X Feature Experience Pack.” This suggests two things.

Faster Updates for Windows Components?

As of the October 2020 Update, there’s no indication this feature experience pack is being updated through the Store yet. However, it could be!

If Microsoft were updating the feature experience pack through the Store, the company could update the software inside the pack more often than once every six months.

Anything moved from Windows to the pack—perhaps a built-in application like File Explorer or a component like the Windows taskbar or Start menu—could be updated much more quickly.

A Single OS For All Microsoft’s Devices?

Microsoft is working hard on Windows 10X, which was going to be designed for dual-screen devices, but now looks like it will initially just be a more “modern” version of Windows that confines traditional desktop applications to containers.

These different versions of Windows could have the same underlying operating system and differ only in their “Feature Experience Pack.”

In other words, this could help advance Microsoft’s Windows Core OS goals: Having a single Windows core operating system that powers all devices, with different experiences installed on top of them. Imagine if a future Xbox could run Windows 10 with the “Xbox Feature Experience Pack,” or a future Windows Phone could run Windows 10 with the “Windows Phone Experience Pack.”

Hints About a Future, But No Use in the Present

As of Windows 10’s October 2020 Update at the end of 2020, you should ignore the “Experience” line in the Settings screen and forget about the “Windows Feature Experience” for now. It doesn’t really mean anything.

Its presence is an artifact of Microsoft’s development process: The company is always experimenting internally, and signs of that experimentation are appearing in the released versions of Windows 10. This information may be important for Microsoft engineers who are experimenting and troubleshooting, but it doesn’t mean anything to Windows users outside Microsoft.

12 Ways to Open File Explorer in Windows 10

File Explorer is an essential file management application. Whether your mouse is broken or you just prefer using Command Prompt, there are many ways you can open File Explorer in Windows 10.

Click the Taskbar Icon

Windows PCs come with certain apps preloaded on the taskbar, including File Explorer; just click the File Explorer icon in the taskbar to open it.

If you’ve removed the File Explorer icon from the taskbar, you can use one of the other methods below to launch it, and then re-pin it to the taskbar.

To do this, launch File Explorer, right-click its icon on the taskbar, and then select “Pin to Taskbar” to keep it there permanently. You can then drag and drop it wherever you want it on the taskbar.

Use the Keyboard Shortcut

Almost every keyboard on a Windows PC has a Windows key (it’s the one with the Windows icon). You can open File Explorer by pressing Windows+E.

Via Windows Search

You can search for any application on your PC in Windows Search. In the Search box to the left of the Taskbar, just type “File Explorer,” and then click (or use the arrow keys to select) “File Explorer” in the search results to launch it.

From the Start Menu

There are three ways you can open File Explorer from the Start menu. The first is to click the Start button, and then scroll down the list of apps and click “Windows System.” In the submenu, click “File Explorer” to open it.

You can also pin File Explorer to the sidebar above the Start button. To do so, click Settings > Personalization > Start, and then click “Choose which folders appear on Start.”

On the next screen, toggle-On the “File Explorer” option.

File Explorer will now appear in the sidebar of the Start menu; click it to launch File Explorer.

You can also add a shortcut to the pinned tile section to the right of the Start menu. To do so, open the Start menu, type “File Explorer” in the Search box, and then, in the pane that appears to the right of the search results, click “Pin to Start.”

Alternatively, if you pinned File Explorer to the sidebar of the Start menu, you can right-click the File Explorer icon, and then click “Pin to Start.”

File Explorer will now appear in the pinned tile section of the Start menu; just click it to launch.

From the Power User Menu

You can also open File Explorer from the Power User Menu. To access it, press Windows+X or right-click the Start button, and then click “File Explorer.”

Ask Cortana

If your PC has a microphone, you can ask Cortana to open File Explorer. To do so, click the Cortana icon (the circle) in the taskbar.

Click the Microphone icon, and then say, “Open File Explorer” (what you say will also appear on the screen). Cortana will respond with “I’ll Open File Explorer,” and then do so.

If you don’t have a microphone, you can just type “File Explorer” in the Cortana search box.

Use the Run Application

You can also launch File Explorer in the Run app. Press Windows+R to open the “Run” window. In the “Open:” box, type “Explorer,” click “OK,” and File Explorer will open.

Run the Source Application

By default, Windows stores File Explorer’s EXE file in the “Windows” folder on the C: drive. Navigate to the “Windows” folder, find “Explorer.exe” in the long list, and then double-click it to open File Explorer.

Add a Shortcut to the Desktop

For quicker access to File Explorer, you can create a desktop shortcut. To do so, click the Start button at the bottom left.

In the app list, scroll down and click “Windows System.” In the submenu, click and drag “File Explorer” to the desktop. You can also drag and drop File Explorer from the pinned app tiles on the right.

Now, you can just double-click the shortcut on your desktop to open File Explorer anytime.

From Task Manager

Task Manager isn’t just for shutting down apps or monitoring processes and performance—you can also launch apps from it. To launch File Explorer this way, press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager. Then, click “File” and select “Run New Task.”

The “Create New Task” window will appear. Type “Explorer” in the “Open:” text box, click “OK,” and File Explorer will open.

From Command Prompt

You can launch almost any app on your PC, including File Explorer, from the Command Prompt. To do so, type “cmd” in the Windows Search box, and then select “Command Prompt” from the search results to open it.

In Command Prompt, type the following command and press Enter:

explorer

File Explorer will open.

Via PowerShell

You can also launch File Explorer from PowerShell. To do so, type “PowerShell” in the Windows Search box, and then select “Windows PowerShell” from the search results to open it.

In PowerShell, type the following command, and then press Enter:

explorer

File Explorer will then open.

Windows 10 is packed with different ways to accomplish common tasks, like opening the Command Prompt or locking your PC. Explore all the options to find those that work best for you and your workflow.

Microsoft Offers a “Distraction” with a New Windows 10 Build from the Iron Branch

Microsoft has released Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 20251 (FE_RELEASE) to Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel. Today’s Insider Preview Build focuses entirely on fixes and improvements and doesn’t bring any new features to the Insiders.

Here is the complete changelog of Windows 10 “Iron” Preview Build 20251

We fixed an issue resulting in the background of some dialogs to unexpectedly appear grey instead of white in the last couple flights.

We fixed an issue resulting in the taskbar occluding the Power button in the Start menu for some Insiders recently.

We fixed an issue resulting in some Insiders seeing a SYSTEM THREAD EXCEPTION NOT HANDLED bug check.

We fixed a crash with opengl32.dll.

We fixed an issue that could result in the Settings app hanging when checking for updates right after upgrade.

We fixed an issue that could result in the Settings app sending a notification that just said “new notification”.

We fixed an issue resulting in the Search Indexer not being able to retrieve metadata from HEIF and WebP files, so you couldn’t search for those files using metadata like date taken.

We fixed an issue resulting in the Cast to Device option in Movies & TV (and other media playback apps) not taking any action when clicking on a listed device in recent builds.

We fixed an issue in recent builds that could result in the screen you were projecting with Miracast freezing shortly after connecting.

Windows 10 Iron Build 20251: Known issues

We’re working on a fix for an issue starting with Build 20236 where installing games from the Store to a secondary non-OS drive will result in the secondary drive becoming inaccessible. To prevent this from occurring you must change the default storage for new content to the secondary drive PRIOR to installing the game. This can be done in Settings > Storage > Change where new content is saved.

We’re looking into reports of the update process hanging for extended periods of time when attempting to install a new build.

Live previews for pinned sites aren’t enabled for all Insiders yet, so you may see a grey window when hovering over the thumbnail in the taskbar. We’re continuing to work on polishing this experience.

We’re working on enabling the new taskbar experience for existing pinned sites. In the meantime, you can unpin the site from the taskbar, remove it from the edge://apps page, and then re-pin the site.

We’re working on a fix for an issue causing some devices to experience a DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION bugcheck.

Windows Insiders on ARM PCs such as the Surface Pro X will notice that Windows PowerShell will fail to launch on this build. As a workaround, please use “Windows PowerShell (x86)” or “Windows PowerShell ISE (x86)” from the Start menu if you need to use PowerShell. Or download the new and modern PowerShell 7 which takes advantage of ARM by running natively. Plus the icon is prettier.

We’re investigating reports that some users are seeing error 0x80070426 when using their Microsoft account to sign into various apps. If you encounter it, rebooting your PC may resolve this.

For more details, head over to the official blog post.

According to sources, Microsoft plans to introduce a design refresh with the 21H2 release, codenamed “Cobalt.” This release will happen after the “Iron” release, which is likely to move to the Beta Channel soon and will be released to the public in H1 2021.

Microsoft to “Reinvigorate” Windows 10 User Experience with a Massive Design Refresh – Internally Calls It Windows 10++

First introduced in 2015, Microsoft hasn’t since given a design overhaul to Windows 10. The company releases two major feature updates every year usually focusing more on small, incremental improvements than drastic changes. With the latest Windows 10 October 2020 Update, version 20H2, Microsoft slightly redesigned the Start menu, making it theme aware. It appears more design changes are in the pipeline as the Windows maker intends to refresh the design with 2021 updates.

“Microsoft is planning to update many top-level user interfaces such as the Start menu, Action Center, and even File Explorer, with consistent modern designs, better animations, and new features,” the folks at Windows Central reported citing internal sources.

“Internal documentation describes the project as ‘reinvigorating’ and modernizing the Windows desktop experience to keep up with customer expectation in a world driven by other modern and lightweight platforms.”

The UI refresh is codenamed “Sun Valley” expected to be introduced with Windows 10 Cobalt – the 2021 H2 update. The project is being led by the new Windows chief Panos Panay who was already handling the company’s Surface division and has this year taken charge of Windows development, as well.

“Personally I’m very excited to lead the Windows Client for Microsoft, which will help us streamline our decision-making processes, be clear on our priorities, and deliver the best end user experiences from silicon through operating systems across all Microsoft apps and service connected devices (OEMs and Surface),” Panay had written in an internal email at the time.

ZDNet adds to this information saying that internally Microsoft engineers have been describing the 21H2 (aka “Cobalt”) release as Windows 10++, which means there are definitely some big plans for the next fall update.

Windows 10 refresh borrows design from Windows 10X

Microsoft was supposed to introduce its new operating system, Windows 10X, for folding dual-screen laptops this holiday season. While that has been postponed due to the pandemic, the company is expected to borrow its design elements for Windows 10. This isn’t a new development as we have been hearing about these plans for months now, but it appears Windows 10 2021 will be the year to make it all happen.

Some parts of Windows 10 that are expected to be redesigned include:

Start menu

Action Center

Better dark mode support

Updated Taskbar

New design for File Explorer

“Fluid experiences” for tablets

Keyboard and emoji improvements

Overall consistent look and feel

While this particular report doesn’t mention Control Center, the company has been taking steps to move more and more of Control Center to the Settings app. It is likely that Microsoft will take further steps in that direction considering the presence of Control Center isn’t only confusing but also a massive design eyesore.

Not a new OS

It should be noted that this wouldn’t be a super drastic change that will make users feel like they are shifting towards a new operating system. This design refresh is intended to implement Fluent Design throughout the OS and make consistent changes across the board to refresh and “reinvigorate” the desktop experience.

Whether any of this actually happens or not is a big question that probably can’t even be answered by Microsoft right now… Considering how things are going with the release of Windows 10X, it won’t be a surprise if the company has to delay this Windows 10 design refresh, as well. But, 2021 or 2022, Windows 10 does deserve some more attention from its maker to finally feel like a consistent operating system both in terms of its design and its update delivery system.

Windows 10 update will take copy-and-paste to new heights

An upcoming Windows 10 update is set to improve upon the operating system’s Cloud Clipboard facility, allowing users to copy-and-paste text and images across all their devices, new screenshots have confirmed.

Released in 2018, the existing feature synchronizes clipboard content across multiple Windows 10 computers attached to the same Microsoft account. For example, users can copy text to the clipboard on their desktop and paste it into a document stored on their laptop later in the day.

Owners of top-end Samsung smartphones can also communicate with devices running the April 2018 Windows 10 update via the Your Phone app.

However, screenshots of the beta version of the Microsoft-owned SwiftKey keyboard have confirmed the company is working to extend this handy tool to all Android-based phones and tablets.

Windows 10 copy-and-paste update

Microsoft SwiftKey for Android is an alternative keyboard that learns the user’s writing style to offer up the most relevant word predictions. A swipe typing mode also provides a different way for users to compose texts and emails on their Android devices.

With the new integration with Windows 10 Cloud Clipboard, Android users will be able to copy items on their mobile device and paste to their Windows 10 machines (and vice versa), making working across multiple pieces of kit far smoother.

Microsoft did not respond to our request for clarification over whether the SwiftKey Cloud Clipboard integration will also come to Apple devices at a later date.

The expansion of the cross-device clipboard feature comes hot on the heels of two other major changes to Windows 10 copy-and paste, announced in the summer.

Microsoft recently unveiled a new-look local clipboard, which will contain a panel that stores all the most recently copied images and GIFs, as well as 25 text entries.

The company’s flagship web browser, Edge, is also getting a new Link Format feature, which will allow users to specify whether a URL copied from the address bar is pasted as a link or in plain-text.