Windows Latest https://www.windowslatest.com/ Your Premier Source for Microsoft News Tue, 18 Aug 2026 04:04:42 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Microsoft rebranded Office every 24-36 months, and it had nothing to do with design https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/18/microsoft-rebranded-office-every-24-36-months-and-it-had-nothing-to-do-with-design/ https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/18/microsoft-rebranded-office-every-24-36-months-and-it-had-nothing-to-do-with-design/#comments Abhijith M B Tue, 18 Aug 2026 02:12:22 +0000 Microsoft https://www.windowslatest.com/?p=93780 While Microsoft changed Office icons and names every two to three years in the 90s, the strategy wasn't driven by aesthetics. According to former executive Steven Sinofsky, physical store shelves and multi-year enterprise contracts dictated these frequent visual updates to justify costly upgrades. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/18/microsoft-rebranded-office-every-24-36-months-and-it-had-nothing-to-do-with-design/">Microsoft rebranded Office every 24-36 months, and it had nothing to do with design</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.windowslatest.com">Windows Latest</a> “We rebranded Office every 24-36 months practically (icons, logotype, and a few name changes)”, said Steven Sinofsky while reposting an X post about Instagram finally letting its design team change the logo in the header bar after years of internal resistance. Sinofsky spent 23 years at Microsoft, joined the Office team in 1994, ran Office product development through six major releases, and later became president of the Windows division. In those early days, Office branding used to carry some weight, because Microsoft sold software differently. New names, icons, and a never-before-seen box on a store shelf were the whole point! <img decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-93810" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Microsoft-Office-was-rebranded-every-two-to-three-years-scaled.jpg" alt="Microsoft Office was rebranded every two to three years" width="2560" height="1575" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Microsoft-Office-was-rebranded-every-two-to-three-years-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Microsoft-Office-was-rebranded-every-two-to-three-years-300x185.jpg 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Microsoft-Office-was-rebranded-every-two-to-three-years-1024x630.jpg 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Microsoft-Office-was-rebranded-every-two-to-three-years-768x473.jpg 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Microsoft-Office-was-rebranded-every-two-to-three-years-1536x945.jpg 1536w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Microsoft-Office-was-rebranded-every-two-to-three-years-2048x1260.jpg 2048w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Microsoft-Office-was-rebranded-every-two-to-three-years-696x428.jpg 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Microsoft-Office-was-rebranded-every-two-to-three-years-1068x657.jpg 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Microsoft-Office-was-rebranded-every-two-to-three-years-683x420.jpg 683w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Microsoft-Office-was-rebranded-every-two-to-three-years-356x220.jpg 356w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /> But according to Sinofsky, the real reason was rarely a designer wanting something fresh to put on a slide. It was retail sales, and later, something a lot messier (hint: enterprise contracts). <h2>Microsoft really did rebrand Office every 24-36 months</h2> Sinofsky’s quote-reposted the post from Frank Bach, a former staff product designer at Instagram, who wrote about finally getting the header logo unstuck after being told for years it couldn’t move. The <a href="https://x.com/stevesi/status/2088696738123297042?s=20">former Microsoft executive mentioned</a> his own Office history, and the replies that followed turned into a rare public account explaining, on the record, why his old employer kept changing the face of its most recognizable product every couple of years. <img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-93811" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/former-Microsoft-executive-says-the-company-rebranded-Office-every-24-to-36-months.jpg" alt="former Microsoft executive says the company rebranded Office every 24 to 36 months" width="593" height="1013" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/former-Microsoft-executive-says-the-company-rebranded-Office-every-24-to-36-months.jpg 593w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/former-Microsoft-executive-says-the-company-rebranded-Office-every-24-to-36-months-176x300.jpg 176w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/former-Microsoft-executive-says-the-company-rebranded-Office-every-24-to-36-months-246x420.jpg 246w" sizes="(max-width: 593px) 100vw, 593px" /> <h3>Office94 and Office96 show how deliberate the cadence was</h3> In Sinofsky’s Hardcore Software newsletter about the <a href="https://hardcoresoftware.learningbyshipping.com/p/034-office94-office96">Office94 and Office96</a> releases, he mentions Microsoft planned two major Office releases about 12 months apart, timed around the still-unfinished Windows 95, then known internally by its codename, Chicago. Office94 was supposed to sync with Chicago’s launch. Office96 would follow a year later. Sinofsky describes Office94 as partly a “strategy tax,” a release Microsoft needed to ship mostly to prove Office could function as its own product organization, instead of being just an accessory to Windows. Only about 15 percent of the relevant engineering resources went to Office94. The other 85 percent were building Office96. <img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-93815" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-95-and-Office-97.png" alt="Windows 95 and Office 97" width="1920" height="883" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-95-and-Office-97.png 1920w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-95-and-Office-97-300x138.png 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-95-and-Office-97-1024x471.png 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-95-and-Office-97-768x353.png 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-95-and-Office-97-1536x706.png 1536w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-95-and-Office-97-696x320.png 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-95-and-Office-97-1068x491.png 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-95-and-Office-97-913x420.png 913w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /> Microsoft marketed the two hero products cleverly too. The company emphasized the dedicated Chicago effort if anyone talked to the Windows team. To the marketing or the rest of the applications division, it was the 85 percent going to Office96 that got the spotlight. Two different pitches, and Sinofsky admits as much himself: “See what was done there? Everyone got something.” <h2>Microsoft wanted Office to feel like an annual product</h2> Sinofsky says that the year-based naming was from a push inside Microsoft leadership to move Office toward an annuity relationship with customers, borrowed loosely from how car companies use model years to make last year’s vehicle feel outdated. Office 4.x ended up being the final version-numbered release before Microsoft switched to year-based names. <figure id="attachment_93807" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-93807" style="width: 1159px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-93807" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Microsoft-Office-4.0.jpg" alt="Microsoft Office 4.0" width="1159" height="535" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Microsoft-Office-4.0.jpg 1159w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Microsoft-Office-4.0-300x138.jpg 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Microsoft-Office-4.0-1024x473.jpg 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Microsoft-Office-4.0-768x355.jpg 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Microsoft-Office-4.0-696x321.jpg 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Microsoft-Office-4.0-1068x493.jpg 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Microsoft-Office-4.0-910x420.jpg 910w" sizes="(max-width: 1159px) 100vw, 1159px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-93807" class="wp-caption-text">Microsoft Office 4.0 Source: WinWorld</figcaption></figure> However, Microsoft hadn’t built the infrastructure to support that idea yet (Classic Microsoft!). There was no reliable way to distribute software that fast, and no subscription billing system waiting in the wings. What Redmond did have was a plan to make people feel like their copy of Office was aging, whether or not anything functionally important had changed. <h2>Why Microsoft kept making Office look new?</h2> “Until about 2000 the primary driver was retail sales and a big portion of that were people upgrading to a new version. The branding was a key element of point of sale and print-based marketing, ” said Sinofsky <img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-93813" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Microsoft-Office-2000.webp" alt="Microsoft Office 2000" width="1440" height="1080" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Microsoft-Office-2000.webp 1440w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Microsoft-Office-2000-300x225.webp 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Microsoft-Office-2000-1024x768.webp 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Microsoft-Office-2000-768x576.webp 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Microsoft-Office-2000-696x522.webp 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Microsoft-Office-2000-1068x801.webp 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Microsoft-Office-2000-560x420.webp 560w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Microsoft-Office-2000-80x60.webp 80w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Microsoft-Office-2000-265x198.webp 265w" sizes="(max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px" /> Microsoft’s sales problem back then looked very different from today’s. Office wasn’t quietly updating in the background. Someone had to walk into a store, notice a new box on the shelf, and decide it was worth paying for. A new icon and a new name gave Microsoft something to put on that box, in magazine ads, and on the shelf talker beside it. Without a visible change, there was little reason for anyone to believe the new version was worth buying. <figure id="attachment_93817" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-93817" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-93817" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Microsoft-Office-95.png" alt="Microsoft Office 95" width="640" height="480" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Microsoft-Office-95.png 640w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Microsoft-Office-95-300x225.png 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Microsoft-Office-95-560x420.png 560w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Microsoft-Office-95-80x60.png 80w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Microsoft-Office-95-265x198.png 265w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-93817" class="wp-caption-text">Source: WinWorld</figcaption></figure> <h3>Enterprise customers made the problem worse</h3> For Microsoft, retail was the easy part. Sinofsky explains that as the company’s enterprise business grew, large customers signed roughly three-year agreements that gave them the right to deploy whatever Office release shipped during that term. If a company didn’t bother deploying the new release, it started to feel like it hadn’t gotten its money’s worth. But deploying a new release across a whole company is an expensive and time-consuming affair, and businesses weren’t thrilled about retraining thousands of employees on a slightly different Excel every year. <figure id="attachment_93814" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-93814" style="width: 800px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-93814" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Microsoft-Excel-in-Office-97.png" alt="Microsoft Excel in Office 97" width="800" height="600" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Microsoft-Excel-in-Office-97.png 800w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Microsoft-Excel-in-Office-97-300x225.png 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Microsoft-Excel-in-Office-97-768x576.png 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Microsoft-Excel-in-Office-97-696x522.png 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Microsoft-Excel-in-Office-97-560x420.png 560w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Microsoft-Excel-in-Office-97-80x60.png 80w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Microsoft-Excel-in-Office-97-265x198.png 265w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-93814" class="wp-caption-text">Microsoft Excel in Office 97. Source: WinWorld</figcaption></figure> Microsoft needed Office to look new often enough that customers felt they were getting something for their money, but not so often that deploying it became a burden. Interestingly, Office94 kept the same .DOC and .XLS formats as the prior release, partly because building a new one took time Microsoft didn’t have, and partly because a shared format created its own kind of lock-in. Everyone needed the same version of Word to reliably open everyone else’s documents, so upgrading wasn’t just a personal decision. Thank goodness for that discretion! <h2>Microsoft eventually stopped selling Office the old way</h2> Today, Microsoft 365 does the opposite of what a 24-month rebrand cycle was built for. Instead of one visible jump every couple of years, subscribers get continuous feature and security updates with no separate box, or new icon, and no reason to wait for a “new” version because there technically isn’t one. And Microsoft blew it with app names. The Microsoft 365 app went from Office, to Office 365, to Microsoft 365, and then <a href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2025/01/18/microsoft-just-renamed-office-to-microsoft-365-copilot-on-windows-11-for-everyone/">got renamed again to Microsoft 365 Copilot</a> last year. The urge to rename things whenever Microsoft needs people to notice something new stuck around. It switched targets from selling boxed upgrades to selling the idea that Copilot is everywhere now. <img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-78588" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Microsoft-365-Copilot-Home-tab.jpg" alt="Microsoft 365 Copilot Home tab" width="2162" height="1485" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Microsoft-365-Copilot-Home-tab.jpg 2162w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Microsoft-365-Copilot-Home-tab-300x206.jpg 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Microsoft-365-Copilot-Home-tab-1024x703.jpg 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Microsoft-365-Copilot-Home-tab-768x528.jpg 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Microsoft-365-Copilot-Home-tab-1536x1055.jpg 1536w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Microsoft-365-Copilot-Home-tab-2048x1407.jpg 2048w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Microsoft-365-Copilot-Home-tab-218x150.jpg 218w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Microsoft-365-Copilot-Home-tab-696x478.jpg 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Microsoft-365-Copilot-Home-tab-1068x734.jpg 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Microsoft-365-Copilot-Home-tab-611x420.jpg 611w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Microsoft-365-Copilot-Home-tab-100x70.jpg 100w" sizes="(max-width: 2162px) 100vw, 2162px" /> Sinofsky makes it clear that these unwarranted branding attempts weren’t just cosmetic. It was doing sales work at a time when software distribution, pricing, and upgrades all worked differently than they do now, back when a logo on a box had to convince someone their old software wasn’t good enough anymore. Instagram getting a new header might look like a tiny decision by comparison. But Sinofsky’s reply is a reminder that a company the size of Microsoft used to treat a rebrand as a business lever. Now, the software giant doesn’t need to rebrand Office every 24 months. With a subscription, the upgrade cycle became the product. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/18/microsoft-rebranded-office-every-24-36-months-and-it-had-nothing-to-do-with-design/">Microsoft rebranded Office every 24-36 months, and it had nothing to do with design</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.windowslatest.com">Windows Latest</a> https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/18/microsoft-rebranded-office-every-24-36-months-and-it-had-nothing-to-do-with-design/feed/ 0 Leaked OEM specs confirm 8GB RAM Windows 11 PCs are back, but you still need 16GB for AI features https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/18/exclusive-oem-specs-confirm-8gb-ram-windows-11-pcs-are-back-but-you-still-need-16gb-for-ai-features/ https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/18/exclusive-oem-specs-confirm-8gb-ram-windows-11-pcs-are-back-but-you-still-need-16gb-for-ai-features/#comments Abhijith M B Mon, 17 Aug 2026 23:48:43 +0000 Windows Hardware https://www.windowslatest.com/?p=93737 Lenovo's IdeaPad Vibe spec sheet defines anything under 16GB RAM as "Non-Copilot," even with an AI-capable AMD Ryzen chip inside. Microsoft's requirements confirm memory, not the processor, decides whether a Windows 11 laptop gets the Copilot+ badge, as 8GB configurations quietly make a comeback The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/18/exclusive-oem-specs-confirm-8gb-ram-windows-11-pcs-are-back-but-you-still-need-16gb-for-ai-features/">Leaked OEM specs confirm 8GB RAM Windows 11 PCs are back, but you still need 16GB for AI features</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.windowslatest.com">Windows Latest</a> Windows Latest has found a clear distinction between 8GB and 16GB RAM configurations in <a href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/12/exclusive-this-is-lenovos-ideapad-vibe-its-answer-to-the-macbook-neo-and-it-comes-in-7-colors/">Lenovo’s upcoming IdeaPad Vibe</a>. Lenovo’s specification sheet that we obtained explicitly defines the device with less than 16GB memory as “Non-Copilot”. The 8GB versions can have the same AMD Ryzen AI silicon as the 16GB ones, yet Lenovo still won’t call them Copilot+ PCs. <img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-93793" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-specifications-show-AI-definition-that-names-8GB-laptops-as-Non-Copilot.jpg" alt="Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe specifications show AI definition that names 8GB laptops as Non-Copilot" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-specifications-show-AI-definition-that-names-8GB-laptops-as-Non-Copilot.jpg 1920w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-specifications-show-AI-definition-that-names-8GB-laptops-as-Non-Copilot-300x169.jpg 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-specifications-show-AI-definition-that-names-8GB-laptops-as-Non-Copilot-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-specifications-show-AI-definition-that-names-8GB-laptops-as-Non-Copilot-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-specifications-show-AI-definition-that-names-8GB-laptops-as-Non-Copilot-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-specifications-show-AI-definition-that-names-8GB-laptops-as-Non-Copilot-696x392.jpg 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-specifications-show-AI-definition-that-names-8GB-laptops-as-Non-Copilot-1068x601.jpg 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-specifications-show-AI-definition-that-names-8GB-laptops-as-Non-Copilot-747x420.jpg 747w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /> Lenovo is drawing a line right as Microsoft needs it least. Microsoft spent the past two years making 16GB the defining requirement for the Copilot+ badge, right as the PC market swings back toward 8GB configurations because RAM has gotten expensive and manufacturers are trying to keep prices under control. <img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-93654" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Leaked-marketing-images-show-the-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-budget-laptop-in-seven-distinct-color-finishes.jpg" alt="Leaked marketing images show the Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe budget laptop in seven distinct color finishes." width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Leaked-marketing-images-show-the-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-budget-laptop-in-seven-distinct-color-finishes.jpg 1920w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Leaked-marketing-images-show-the-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-budget-laptop-in-seven-distinct-color-finishes-300x169.jpg 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Leaked-marketing-images-show-the-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-budget-laptop-in-seven-distinct-color-finishes-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Leaked-marketing-images-show-the-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-budget-laptop-in-seven-distinct-color-finishes-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Leaked-marketing-images-show-the-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-budget-laptop-in-seven-distinct-color-finishes-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Leaked-marketing-images-show-the-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-budget-laptop-in-seven-distinct-color-finishes-696x392.jpg 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Leaked-marketing-images-show-the-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-budget-laptop-in-seven-distinct-color-finishes-1068x601.jpg 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Leaked-marketing-images-show-the-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-budget-laptop-in-seven-distinct-color-finishes-747x420.jpg 747w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /> Microsoft is simultaneously promising to make Windows 11 run better on 8GB PCs while pushing Windows toward more local AI. If 8GB becomes the norm again, how exactly does Microsoft expect Windows PCs to become the platform for on-device AI? <img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-89972" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Copilot-PC.png" alt="Copilot+ PC" width="1600" height="800" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Copilot-PC.png 1600w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Copilot-PC-300x150.png 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Copilot-PC-1024x512.png 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Copilot-PC-768x384.png 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Copilot-PC-1536x768.png 1536w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Copilot-PC-696x348.png 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Copilot-PC-1068x534.png 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Copilot-PC-840x420.png 840w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px" /> <h2>Lenovo’s leaked IdeaPad Vibe specs draw a hard 16GB line for Copilot+</h2> As we uncovered the <a href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/17/exclusive-lenovos-macbook-neo-rival-starts-at-8gb-ram-full-specs/">full specifications of IdeaPad Vibe</a> we found the OEM AI guideline, right next to the processor and memory options: “AI Definition: 16+ GB Memory Copilot+ / Less 16 GB Memory Non-Copilot.” <img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-93795" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-vibe-spec-sheet-shows-PCs-with-less-than-16GB-RAM-is-Non-Copilot.jpg" alt="Lenovo IdeaPad vibe spec sheet shows PCs with less than 16GB RAM is Non-Copilot" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-vibe-spec-sheet-shows-PCs-with-less-than-16GB-RAM-is-Non-Copilot.jpg 1920w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-vibe-spec-sheet-shows-PCs-with-less-than-16GB-RAM-is-Non-Copilot-300x169.jpg 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-vibe-spec-sheet-shows-PCs-with-less-than-16GB-RAM-is-Non-Copilot-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-vibe-spec-sheet-shows-PCs-with-less-than-16GB-RAM-is-Non-Copilot-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-vibe-spec-sheet-shows-PCs-with-less-than-16GB-RAM-is-Non-Copilot-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-vibe-spec-sheet-shows-PCs-with-less-than-16GB-RAM-is-Non-Copilot-696x392.jpg 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-vibe-spec-sheet-shows-PCs-with-less-than-16GB-RAM-is-Non-Copilot-1068x601.jpg 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-vibe-spec-sheet-shows-PCs-with-less-than-16GB-RAM-is-Non-Copilot-747x420.jpg 747w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /> The Vibe can run AMD’s Ryzen AI 400-series chips, including the Ryzen AI 7 445 and Ryzen AI 5 435, and Lenovo still splits the lineup by memory capacity regardless of which processor is inside. <img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-93788" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovos-IdeaPad-Vibe-AMD-full-specs-are-out-revealing-a-colorful-configurable-MacBook-Neo-rival.jpg" alt="Lenovo's IdeaPad Vibe (AMD) full specs are out, revealing a colorful, configurable MacBook Neo rival." width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovos-IdeaPad-Vibe-AMD-full-specs-are-out-revealing-a-colorful-configurable-MacBook-Neo-rival.jpg 1920w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovos-IdeaPad-Vibe-AMD-full-specs-are-out-revealing-a-colorful-configurable-MacBook-Neo-rival-300x169.jpg 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovos-IdeaPad-Vibe-AMD-full-specs-are-out-revealing-a-colorful-configurable-MacBook-Neo-rival-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovos-IdeaPad-Vibe-AMD-full-specs-are-out-revealing-a-colorful-configurable-MacBook-Neo-rival-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovos-IdeaPad-Vibe-AMD-full-specs-are-out-revealing-a-colorful-configurable-MacBook-Neo-rival-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovos-IdeaPad-Vibe-AMD-full-specs-are-out-revealing-a-colorful-configurable-MacBook-Neo-rival-696x392.jpg 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovos-IdeaPad-Vibe-AMD-full-specs-are-out-revealing-a-colorful-configurable-MacBook-Neo-rival-1068x601.jpg 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovos-IdeaPad-Vibe-AMD-full-specs-are-out-revealing-a-colorful-configurable-MacBook-Neo-rival-747x420.jpg 747w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /> An 8GB IdeaPad Vibe is still a Windows 11 laptop with an AI-capable AMD processor. It simply isn’t a Copilot+ PC, according to the AI guidelines that Lenovo follows. Microsoft’s published <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/learning-center/copilot-plus-pcs-windows-pcs-differences?msockid=38e2ac5f3af3611227d2bbdf3b106082">requirements mention Copilot+ PCs</a> need a 40+ TOPS NPU, 16GB of DDR5 or LPDDR5 RAM, and at least 256GB of storage, with AMD Ryzen AI 300 and 400 series among the supported processor families. Lenovo isn’t inventing a new rule here. It’s just the first OEM to print Microsoft’s requirement on a spec sheet, now that 8GB laptops are coming back. Basically, memory capacity is now the deciding factor if a PC gets the Copilot+ badge. <figure id="attachment_93784" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-93784" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-93784" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Pink.png" alt="Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe in Dreamy Violet" width="1600" height="900" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Pink.png 1600w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Pink-300x169.png 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Pink-1024x576.png 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Pink-768x432.png 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Pink-1536x864.png 1536w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Pink-696x392.png 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Pink-1068x601.png 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Pink-747x420.png 747w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-93784" class="wp-caption-text">Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe in Dreamy Violet. Credit: WindowsLatest.com</figcaption></figure> Lenovo isn’t building one cheap configuration either. The IdeaPad Vibe’s memory options run 8GB and 16GB in single-channel, then 16GB, 24GB, and 32GB in dual-channel, meaning there’s a deliberate lower-cost tier sitting outside Copilot+ branding while still using current AI-capable hardware, as a way to reduce cost to become a viable competition to the MacBook Neo. <a href='https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/12/exclusive-this-is-lenovos-ideapad-vibe-its-answer-to-the-macbook-neo-and-it-comes-in-7-colors/lenovo-ideapad-vibe-amd-laptop-front-and-back/'><img width="2000" height="1125" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-AMD-laptop-front-and-back.png" class="attachment-full size-full" alt="Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe AMD laptop front and back" decoding="async" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-AMD-laptop-front-and-back.png 2000w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-AMD-laptop-front-and-back-300x169.png 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-AMD-laptop-front-and-back-1024x576.png 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-AMD-laptop-front-and-back-768x432.png 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-AMD-laptop-front-and-back-1536x864.png 1536w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-AMD-laptop-front-and-back-696x392.png 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-AMD-laptop-front-and-back-1068x601.png 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-AMD-laptop-front-and-back-747x420.png 747w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /></a> <a href='https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/12/exclusive-this-is-lenovos-ideapad-vibe-its-answer-to-the-macbook-neo-and-it-comes-in-7-colors/lenovo-ideapad-vibe-amd-laptop/'><img width="2000" height="1125" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-AMD-Laptop.png" class="attachment-full size-full" alt="Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe AMD Laptop" decoding="async" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-AMD-Laptop.png 2000w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-AMD-Laptop-300x169.png 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-AMD-Laptop-1024x576.png 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-AMD-Laptop-768x432.png 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-AMD-Laptop-1536x864.png 1536w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-AMD-Laptop-696x392.png 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-AMD-Laptop-1068x601.png 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-AMD-Laptop-747x420.png 747w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /></a> <h2>Microsoft is optimizing Windows 11 for 8GB while building it for local AI</h2> Microsoft has already admitted Windows 11 needs to use less memory. In early August, <a href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/01/microsoft-confirms-windows-11-is-a-memory-hog-promises-8gb-ram-pc-optimization-by-end-of-2026/">Microsoft confirmed “Memory optimization for 8GB and above” is coming</a> by the end of 2026, aiming to cut the operating system’s memory footprint and make PCs feel more responsive. <img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-93165" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/A-PC-with-8GB-RAM.jpg" alt="A PC with 8GB RAM" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/A-PC-with-8GB-RAM.jpg 1920w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/A-PC-with-8GB-RAM-300x169.jpg 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/A-PC-with-8GB-RAM-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/A-PC-with-8GB-RAM-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/A-PC-with-8GB-RAM-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/A-PC-with-8GB-RAM-696x392.jpg 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/A-PC-with-8GB-RAM-1068x601.jpg 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/A-PC-with-8GB-RAM-747x420.jpg 747w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /> The memory optimization promise arrives at the end of a fairly messy year for Microsoft’s RAM messaging. The company pushed 16GB as the practical baseline for years, then said <a href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/06/25/microsoft-now-says-8gb-ram-is-fine-for-everyday-use-right-after-years-of-pushing-you-to-buy-more/">8GB is fine for everyday use</a>, then <a href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/05/21/microsoft-pushed-16gb-ram-as-must-have-for-windows-11-for-years-now-sells-an-8gb-surface-laptop-for-1299/">sold an 8GB Surface Laptop for $1,299</a>, then quietly <a href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/05/microsoft-just-deleted-windows-11s-32gb-ram-recommendation-docs-as-prices-soar-and-it-rushes-to-sell-8gb-ram-pcs/">deleted its 32GB gaming recommendation</a> after the backlash that followed. Now, OEMs are coming back to 8GB again largely because memory prices have surged, and Microsoft’s messaging has bent to match. <a href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/07/27/microsoft-admits-windows-11-native-apps-hog-ram-promises-a-winui-performance-boost-before-start-menu-rewrite/">Removing WebView2 components</a> from the OS is Microsoft’s best bet at making Windows 11 more optimized for 8GB hardware. <img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-93043" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/WinUI3-experiences-in-Windows.jpg" alt="WinUI3 experiences in Windows" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/WinUI3-experiences-in-Windows.jpg 1920w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/WinUI3-experiences-in-Windows-300x169.jpg 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/WinUI3-experiences-in-Windows-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/WinUI3-experiences-in-Windows-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/WinUI3-experiences-in-Windows-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/WinUI3-experiences-in-Windows-696x392.jpg 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/WinUI3-experiences-in-Windows-1068x601.jpg 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/WinUI3-experiences-in-Windows-747x420.jpg 747w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /> Also, Microsoft has been <a href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/07/30/a-major-windows-11-ui-redesign-is-coming-microsoft-is-dumping-legacy-code-for-winui/">replacing legacy Windows interfaces with WinUI 3</a>, which will make the native modern framework ubiquitous in the not-so-far-away future. Windows Latest has tracked that work as it spread to more of the OS, <a href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/16/windows-11-is-heading-for-a-new-look-as-microsoft-replaces-another-legacy-interface-with-winui-3/">most recently reaching another legacy interface this month</a>. <img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-93746" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AutoPlay-in-Windows-11.jpg" alt="AutoPlay in Windows 11" width="1230" height="1073" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AutoPlay-in-Windows-11.jpg 1230w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AutoPlay-in-Windows-11-300x262.jpg 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AutoPlay-in-Windows-11-1024x893.jpg 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AutoPlay-in-Windows-11-768x670.jpg 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AutoPlay-in-Windows-11-696x607.jpg 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AutoPlay-in-Windows-11-1068x932.jpg 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AutoPlay-in-Windows-11-481x420.jpg 481w" sizes="(max-width: 1230px) 100vw, 1230px" /> <h2>Microsoft wants Windows to become an AI computer, but 8GB is the biggest obstacle</h2> Satya Nadella gave the statement of intent on Microsoft’s FY26 Q4 earnings call: “We see significant opportunity for Windows to become the offload for unmetered intelligence, combining powerful on device compute with enterprise-grade security.” Microsoft isn’t just trying to make Windows run Office and Chrome comfortably on 8GB. It’s simultaneously positioning Windows as an edge AI platform where the CPU, GPU, and NPU all handle more work locally, and Nadella’s phrase, “unmetered intelligence,” makes the ambition explicit. <figure id="attachment_90100" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-90100" style="width: 1920px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-90100" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Copilot-PC-announcement.png" alt="Copilot+ PC announcement" width="1920" height="1081" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Copilot-PC-announcement.png 1920w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Copilot-PC-announcement-300x169.png 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Copilot-PC-announcement-1024x577.png 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Copilot-PC-announcement-768x432.png 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Copilot-PC-announcement-1536x865.png 1536w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Copilot-PC-announcement-696x392.png 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Copilot-PC-announcement-1068x601.png 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Copilot-PC-announcement-746x420.png 746w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-90100" class="wp-caption-text">Source: Microsoft</figcaption></figure> 8GB can be enough for everyday Windows use, but definitely not ideal for a PC that’s expected to run local AI workloads. However, for powerful GPUs, Microsoft has already started blurring its Copilot+ line to compensate, <a href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/06/11/microsoft-is-killing-the-copilot-pc-advantage-brings-windows-11s-local-ai-to-rtx-30-pcs-with-6gb-vram/">expanding local AI APIs to PCs with RTX 30-series or newer GPUs and 6GB of VRAM</a>, no NPU or Copilot+ badge required. A move like this makes the Copilot+ label a lot less useful as a universal answer to “can this PC do AI.” Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe spec reveal doesn’t show Microsoft abandoning Copilot+. It shows the Windows PC market splitting into two tiers. 8GB machines can be cheap, capable everyday Windows PCs, while 16GB is the entry point for Microsoft’s branded local-AI experience. <a href='https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/18/exclusive-oem-specs-confirm-8gb-ram-windows-11-pcs-are-back-but-you-still-need-16gb-for-ai-features/lenovo-ideapad-vibe-in-blueish-grey/'><img width="1600" height="900" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Blueish-Grey.png" class="attachment-full size-full" alt="Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe in Moody Blue." decoding="async" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Blueish-Grey.png 1600w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Blueish-Grey-300x169.png 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Blueish-Grey-1024x576.png 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Blueish-Grey-768x432.png 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Blueish-Grey-1536x864.png 1536w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Blueish-Grey-696x392.png 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Blueish-Grey-1068x601.png 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Blueish-Grey-747x420.png 747w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px" /></a> <a href='https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/17/exclusive-lenovos-macbook-neo-rival-starts-at-8gb-ram-full-specs/lenovo-ideapad-vibe-in-yellow/'><img width="1600" height="900" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Yellow.png" class="attachment-full size-full" alt="Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe AMD Laptop. Credit: WindowsLatest.com" decoding="async" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Yellow.png 1600w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Yellow-300x169.png 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Yellow-1024x576.png 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Yellow-768x432.png 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Yellow-1536x864.png 1536w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Yellow-696x392.png 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Yellow-1068x601.png 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Yellow-747x420.png 747w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px" /></a> Microsoft now has to make both halves of that equation work at once with Windows 11 light enough for 8GB laptops, and powerful enough to become the local AI platform Nadella keeps describing. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/18/exclusive-oem-specs-confirm-8gb-ram-windows-11-pcs-are-back-but-you-still-need-16gb-for-ai-features/">Leaked OEM specs confirm 8GB RAM Windows 11 PCs are back, but you still need 16GB for AI features</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.windowslatest.com">Windows Latest</a> https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/18/exclusive-oem-specs-confirm-8gb-ram-windows-11-pcs-are-back-but-you-still-need-16gb-for-ai-features/feed/ 0 Exclusive: Lenovo’s MacBook Neo rival starts at 8GB RAM, full specs https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/17/exclusive-lenovos-macbook-neo-rival-starts-at-8gb-ram-full-specs/ https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/17/exclusive-lenovos-macbook-neo-rival-starts-at-8gb-ram-full-specs/#comments Abhijith M B Mon, 17 Aug 2026 18:06:24 +0000 Windows Hardware https://www.windowslatest.com/?p=93781 Lenovo's IdeaPad Vibe comes in 14-inch and 15-inch sizes with AMD Ryzen AI 400 and 300-series chips, up to 32GB of RAM, 1TB of storage, IPS or OLED displays, a 5MP camera, and a port selection that beats the MacBook Neo. Here are the full specifications, straight from Lenovo's own spec sheet. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/17/exclusive-lenovos-macbook-neo-rival-starts-at-8gb-ram-full-specs/">Exclusive: Lenovo’s MacBook Neo rival starts at 8GB RAM, full specs</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.windowslatest.com">Windows Latest</a> Windows Latest has obtained the full specifications of <a href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/12/exclusive-this-is-lenovos-ideapad-vibe-its-answer-to-the-macbook-neo-and-it-comes-in-7-colors/">Lenovo’s colorful IdeaPad Vibe, the MacBook Neo rival</a> we first revealed a few days ago, and there are some interesting surprises inside. Lenovo is giving buyers two screen sizes, seven colors, up to 32GB of RAM, a 5MP camera, and enough ports to make Apple’s MacBook Neo and Air look like they’re allergic to connectivity. <figure id="attachment_93654" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-93654" style="width: 1920px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-93654" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Leaked-marketing-images-show-the-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-budget-laptop-in-seven-distinct-color-finishes.jpg" alt="Leaked marketing images show the Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe budget laptop in seven distinct color finishes." width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Leaked-marketing-images-show-the-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-budget-laptop-in-seven-distinct-color-finishes.jpg 1920w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Leaked-marketing-images-show-the-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-budget-laptop-in-seven-distinct-color-finishes-300x169.jpg 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Leaked-marketing-images-show-the-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-budget-laptop-in-seven-distinct-color-finishes-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Leaked-marketing-images-show-the-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-budget-laptop-in-seven-distinct-color-finishes-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Leaked-marketing-images-show-the-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-budget-laptop-in-seven-distinct-color-finishes-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Leaked-marketing-images-show-the-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-budget-laptop-in-seven-distinct-color-finishes-696x392.jpg 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Leaked-marketing-images-show-the-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-budget-laptop-in-seven-distinct-color-finishes-1068x601.jpg 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Leaked-marketing-images-show-the-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-budget-laptop-in-seven-distinct-color-finishes-747x420.jpg 747w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-93654" class="wp-caption-text">Leaked marketing images show the Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe budget laptop in seven distinct color finishes.</figcaption></figure> The specification sheet we’ve uncovered includes the AMD configuration, sold as the IdeaPad Vibe a in 14-inch and 15-inch sizes. Both run AMD Ryzen AI 400 or Ryzen AI 300-series chips at up to 30W TDP, and Lenovo has planned out multiple memory, storage, display, and battery configurations. Lenovo has clearly made some compromises to chase a lower price. But Windows PC users have an advantage Apple users cannot comprehend. We get to choose from many configurations instead of being forced to a tightly controlled spec sheet. <a href='https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/17/exclusive-lenovos-macbook-neo-rival-starts-at-8gb-ram-full-specs/lenovo-ideapad-vibe-in-yellow/'><img width="1600" height="900" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Yellow.png" class="attachment-full size-full" alt="Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe AMD Laptop. Credit: WindowsLatest.com" decoding="async" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Yellow.png 1600w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Yellow-300x169.png 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Yellow-1024x576.png 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Yellow-768x432.png 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Yellow-1536x864.png 1536w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Yellow-696x392.png 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Yellow-1068x601.png 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Yellow-747x420.png 747w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px" /></a> <a href='https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/12/exclusive-this-is-lenovos-ideapad-vibe-its-answer-to-the-macbook-neo-and-it-comes-in-7-colors/lenovo-ideapad-vibe-amd-laptop/'><img width="2000" height="1125" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-AMD-Laptop.png" class="attachment-full size-full" alt="Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe AMD Laptop" decoding="async" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-AMD-Laptop.png 2000w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-AMD-Laptop-300x169.png 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-AMD-Laptop-1024x576.png 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-AMD-Laptop-768x432.png 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-AMD-Laptop-1536x864.png 1536w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-AMD-Laptop-696x392.png 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-AMD-Laptop-1068x601.png 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-AMD-Laptop-747x420.png 747w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /></a> <h2 style="line-height: 150%; margin: 12.0pt 0cm 7.5pt 0cm;">Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe full specifications reveal a surprisingly flexible MacBook Neo rival</h2> <h3>Specifications of Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe a (14″) 12th gen</h3> <table> <thead> <tr> <th>Specification</th> <th>IdeaPad Vibe 14</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td>Processor (Ryzen AI 400 series)</td> <td>Ryzen AI 7 445, Ryzen AI 5 435, Ryzen AI 5 430, up to 30W TDP</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Processor (Ryzen AI 300 series)</td> <td>Ryzen AI 7 350, Ryzen AI 7 345, Ryzen AI 7 340, Ryzen AI 7 330, up to 30W TDP</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Operating system</td> <td>Windows 11</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Graphics</td> <td>UMA, Integrated AMD Radeon Graphics</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Memory</td> <td>8GB/16GB LPDDR5X 5600MT/s single channel; 16GB/24GB/32GB LPDDR5X 5600MT/s dual channel</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Storage</td> <td>256GB SSD PCIe Gen4 TLC; 256GB/512GB/1TB SSD PCIe Gen4 QLC</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Camera</td> <td>FHD IR camera with privacy shutter; HD 5MP RGB camera with privacy shutter</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Audio</td> <td>2x 2W speakers, Dolby Audio</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Battery</td> <td>65WHr / 50WHr, Rapid Charge Boost: 15 minutes for 2 hours of use</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Adapter</td> <td>65W, USB Type-C</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Display option 1</td> <td>14-inch WUXGA (1920×1200) IPS, 16:10, 400 nits, 120Hz, 100% sRGB, TÜV Low Blue Light, Non-Touch</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Display option 2</td> <td>14-inch WUXGA (1920×1200) IPS, 16:10, 400 nits, 60Hz, 45% NTSC, TÜV Low Blue Light, Non-Touch</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Display option 3</td> <td>14-inch WUXGA (1920×1200) OLED, 16:10, TBD nits, 60Hz, 100% DCI-P3, True Black 500, TÜV Low Blue Light, Non-Touch</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Active area ratio</td> <td>90.1%</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Narrow bezel (4-side)</td> <td>Left/Right: 3.42mm, Top: 6.42mm, Bottom: 9.69mm</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Dimensions (W x D x H)</td> <td>222.1 x 224.1 x as thin as 16.9mm (8.74 x 8.82 x 0.66 inches)</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Weight</td> <td>Starting at ~1.3kg (2.86 lbs); 50WHr IPS: ~1.39kg (3.06 lbs); 60WHr IPS: ~1.43kg (3.15 lbs)</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Hinge</td> <td>180 degrees</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Keyboard</td> <td>1.3mm key travel, optional backlight</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Touchpad</td> <td>120mm x 75mm, Mylar</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Colors</td> <td>2 standard: Lowkey Grey, Moody Blue. 5 Trendy Color (OTB): Chill Blue, Zen Green, Spicy Gold, Radiant Coral, Dreamy Violet</td> </tr> <tr> <td>WLAN</td> <td>Wi-Fi 6</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Bluetooth</td> <td>Bluetooth 5.3</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Ports, right side</td> <td>1x power button, 1x microSD card reader, 2x USB 3.2 Type-A Gen 1 (5Gb/s)</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Ports, left side</td> <td>1x HDMI 1.4, 2x USB Type-C (DP + PD 1.2/3.0, 5Gb/s), 1x combo audio jack, 1x One Key Recovery button</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Preloaded software</td> <td>Windows 11 Pro/Home, Lenovo Vantage, Microsoft 365 (Trial), McAfee LiveSafe, Dolby Audio, Adobe Express Premium (Trial)</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Certifications</td> <td>ENERGY STAR 9.0, EPEAT Silver, MIL-STD-810H military test passed</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Optional services</td> <td>Premium Care Plus, CO2 Offset Services, Lenovo Smart Performance, Lenovo Smart Lock</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Optional in-box accessories</td> <td>Lenovo WL310 Bluetooth Silent Mouse, Lenovo E310 True Wireless Stereo Earbuds, Lenovo 15.6-inch Laptop Backpack B210</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <h3>Specifications of Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe a (15″) 12th gen</h3> <table> <thead> <tr> <th>Specification</th> <th>IdeaPad Vibe 15</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td>Processor (Ryzen AI 400 series)</td> <td>Ryzen AI 7 445, Ryzen AI 5 435, Ryzen AI 5 430, up to 30W TDP</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Processor (Ryzen AI 300 series)</td> <td>Ryzen AI 7 350, Ryzen AI 7 345, Ryzen AI 7 340, Ryzen AI 7 330, up to 30W TDP</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Operating system</td> <td>Windows 11</td> </tr> <tr> <td>AI/Copilot+ definition</td> <td>16GB or more memory = Copilot+; less than 16GB = Non-Copilot</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Graphics</td> <td>UMA, Integrated AMD Radeon Graphics</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Memory</td> <td>8GB/16GB LPDDR5X 5600MT/s single channel; 16GB/24GB/32GB LPDDR5X 5600MT/s dual channel</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Storage</td> <td>256GB SSD PCIe Gen4 TLC; 256GB/512GB/1TB SSD PCIe Gen4 QLC</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Camera</td> <td>FHD IR camera with privacy shutter; HD 5MP RGB camera with privacy shutter</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Audio</td> <td>2x 2W speakers, Dolby Audio</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Battery</td> <td>65WHr / 50WHr, Rapid Charge Boost: 15 minutes for 2 hours of use</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Adapter</td> <td>65W, USB Type-C</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Display option 1</td> <td>15-inch WUXGA (1920×1200) IPS, 16:10, 400 nits, 120Hz, 100% sRGB, TÜV Low Blue Light, Touch</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Display option 2</td> <td>15-inch WUXGA (1920×1200) IPS, 16:10, 400 nits, 60Hz, 45% NTSC, TÜV Low Blue Light, Non-Touch</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Display option 3</td> <td>15.2-inch 2.1K (2240×1400) OLED, 16:10, 500 nits, 60Hz, 100% DCI-P3, True Black 1000, TÜV Low Blue Light, Non-Touch</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Active area ratio</td> <td>90.1%</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Narrow bezel (4-side)</td> <td>Left/Right: 3.42mm, Top: 6.42mm, Bottom: 9.69mm</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Dimensions (W x D x H)</td> <td>222.1 x 224.1 x as thin as 16.9mm (8.74 x 8.82 x 0.66 inches)</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Weight</td> <td>Starting at ~1.3kg (2.86 lbs); 50WHr IPS: ~1.39kg (3.06 lbs); 60WHr IPS: ~1.43kg (3.15 lbs)</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Hinge</td> <td>180 degrees</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Keyboard</td> <td>1.3mm key travel, optional backlight</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Touchpad</td> <td>120mm x 75mm, Mylar</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Colors</td> <td>2 standard: Lowkey Grey, Moody Blue. 5 Trendy Color (OTB): Chill Blue, Zen Green, Spicy Gold, Radiant Coral, Dreamy Violet</td> </tr> <tr> <td>WLAN</td> <td>Wi-Fi 6</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Bluetooth</td> <td>Bluetooth 5.3</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Ports, right side</td> <td>1x power button, 1x microSD card reader, 2x USB 3.2 Type-A Gen 1 (5Gb/s)</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Ports, left side</td> <td>1x HDMI 1.4, 2x USB Type-C (DP + PD 1.2/3.0, 5Gb/s), 1x combo audio jack, 1x One Key Recovery button</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Preloaded software</td> <td>Windows 11 Pro/Home, Lenovo Vantage, Microsoft 365 (Trial), McAfee LiveSafe, Dolby Audio, Adobe Express Premium (Trial)</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Certifications</td> <td>ENERGY STAR 9.0, EPEAT Silver, MIL-STD-810H military test passed</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Optional services</td> <td>Premium Care Plus, CO2 Offset Services, Lenovo Smart Performance, Lenovo Smart Lock</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Optional in-box accessories</td> <td>Lenovo WL310 Bluetooth Silent Mouse, Lenovo E310 True Wireless Stereo Earbuds, Lenovo 15.6-inch Laptop Backpack B210</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>   <figure id="attachment_93800" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-93800" style="width: 2480px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-93800 size-full" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Leaked-Specifications-of-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-a.png" alt="Leaked Specifications of Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe a" width="2480" height="3508" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Leaked-Specifications-of-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-a.png 2480w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Leaked-Specifications-of-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-a-212x300.png 212w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Leaked-Specifications-of-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-a-724x1024.png 724w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Leaked-Specifications-of-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-a-768x1086.png 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Leaked-Specifications-of-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-a-1086x1536.png 1086w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Leaked-Specifications-of-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-a-1448x2048.png 1448w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Leaked-Specifications-of-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-a-696x985.png 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Leaked-Specifications-of-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-a-1068x1511.png 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Leaked-Specifications-of-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-a-297x420.png 297w" sizes="(max-width: 2480px) 100vw, 2480px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-93800" class="wp-caption-text">Credit: WindowsLatest.com</figcaption></figure> Lenovo’s specification sheet lists both 65Wh and 50Wh battery options, which is significantly higher than the Neo, and considering that these AMD chips are touted to be efficient, we may also see excellent battery life. <img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-93802" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Specifications-of-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-a-14-inch.png" alt="Specifications of Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe a 14 inch" width="2480" height="3508" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Specifications-of-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-a-14-inch.png 2480w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Specifications-of-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-a-14-inch-212x300.png 212w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Specifications-of-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-a-14-inch-724x1024.png 724w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Specifications-of-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-a-14-inch-768x1086.png 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Specifications-of-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-a-14-inch-1086x1536.png 1086w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Specifications-of-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-a-14-inch-1448x2048.png 1448w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Specifications-of-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-a-14-inch-696x985.png 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Specifications-of-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-a-14-inch-1068x1511.png 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Specifications-of-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-a-14-inch-297x420.png 297w" sizes="(max-width: 2480px) 100vw, 2480px" /> <img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-93803" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Specifications-of-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-a-15-inch.png" alt="Specifications of Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe a 15 inch" width="2480" height="3508" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Specifications-of-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-a-15-inch.png 2480w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Specifications-of-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-a-15-inch-212x300.png 212w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Specifications-of-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-a-15-inch-724x1024.png 724w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Specifications-of-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-a-15-inch-768x1086.png 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Specifications-of-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-a-15-inch-1086x1536.png 1086w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Specifications-of-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-a-15-inch-1448x2048.png 1448w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Specifications-of-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-a-15-inch-696x985.png 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Specifications-of-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-a-15-inch-1068x1511.png 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Specifications-of-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-a-15-inch-297x420.png 297w" sizes="(max-width: 2480px) 100vw, 2480px" /> It would be easy to assume Lenovo cut costs here as well. It didn’t. AMD announced the Ryzen AI 400 family at CES 2026, and the Ryzen AI 7 445, Ryzen AI 5 435, and Ryzen AI 5 430 all belong to that newer Gorgon Point generation, not the outgoing Ryzen AI 300 (Strix Point) chips some competitors are still shipping. AMD lists up to 50 TOPS of NPU performance across these chips. Note that there would also be Snapdragon variants for the IdeaPad Vibe. <figure id="attachment_93653" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-93653" style="width: 2000px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-93653" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-Snapdragon-laptop.png" alt="Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe Snapdragon laptop" width="2000" height="1125" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-Snapdragon-laptop.png 2000w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-Snapdragon-laptop-300x169.png 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-Snapdragon-laptop-1024x576.png 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-Snapdragon-laptop-768x432.png 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-Snapdragon-laptop-1536x864.png 1536w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-Snapdragon-laptop-696x392.png 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-Snapdragon-laptop-1068x601.png 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-Snapdragon-laptop-747x420.png 747w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-93653" class="wp-caption-text">Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe Snapdragon laptop. Credit: WindowsLatest.com</figcaption></figure> <h2>Seven colors, 8GB RAM and an optional keyboard backlight show how Lenovo is chasing the MacBook Neo</h2> Lenovo’s specification sheet splits the 7 colors into two standard finishes, Lowkey Grey and Moody Blue, plus five “Trendy Color” options available out of the box: Chill Blue, Zen Green, Spicy Gold, Radiant Coral, and Dreamy Violet. <figure id="attachment_93784" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-93784" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-93784" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Pink.png" alt="Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe in Dreamy Violet" width="1600" height="900" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Pink.png 1600w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Pink-300x169.png 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Pink-1024x576.png 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Pink-768x432.png 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Pink-1536x864.png 1536w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Pink-696x392.png 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Pink-1068x601.png 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Pink-747x420.png 747w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-93784" class="wp-caption-text">Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe in Dreamy Violet. Credit: WindowsLatest.com</figcaption></figure> The 8GB RAM option is what has a remote chance to match the MacBook Neo in pricing. Lenovo offers 8GB and 16GB single-channel LPDDR5X, plus 16GB, 24GB, and 32GB dual-channel configurations. Both the Neo and the entry Vibe make 8GB available at the bottom of the lineup, but Lenovo gives buyers a longer path upward from there. The optional keyboard backlight is another obvious place Lenovo trimmed cost. Apple keeps the Neo relatively stripped down in similar ways, and Lenovo appears to be treating certain features as configurable extras. <figure id="attachment_93652" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-93652" style="width: 2000px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-93652" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-AMD-laptop-front-and-back.png" alt="Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe AMD laptop front and back" width="2000" height="1125" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-AMD-laptop-front-and-back.png 2000w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-AMD-laptop-front-and-back-300x169.png 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-AMD-laptop-front-and-back-1024x576.png 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-AMD-laptop-front-and-back-768x432.png 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-AMD-laptop-front-and-back-1536x864.png 1536w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-AMD-laptop-front-and-back-696x392.png 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-AMD-laptop-front-and-back-1068x601.png 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-AMD-laptop-front-and-back-747x420.png 747w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-93652" class="wp-caption-text">Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe in Radiant Coral. Credit: WindowsLatest.com</figcaption></figure> Take a look at MacBook Neo’s product page, and come back here. You’ll realise that Lenovo gives you a menu! You can pick 14 or 15 inches, IPS or OLED, 60Hz or 120Hz, touch or non-touch, 8GB through 32GB of memory, and up to 1TB of storage. Configuration freedom like this is one of the strongest advantages the Windows ecosystem still holds over Apple’s tightly controlled lineup. <h2>The IdeaPad Vibe has a few things the MacBook Neo cannot match</h2> All configurations, even the cheapest one, come with two USB-A ports, two USB-C ports, an HDMI 1.4 output, a microSD card reader, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The USB-C ports support DisplayPort and Power Delivery. <figure id="attachment_93646" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-93646" style="width: 2000px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-93646" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-laptop-ports-closeup.png" alt="Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe laptop ports closeup" width="2000" height="1125" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-laptop-ports-closeup.png 2000w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-laptop-ports-closeup-300x169.png 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-laptop-ports-closeup-1024x576.png 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-laptop-ports-closeup-768x432.png 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-laptop-ports-closeup-1536x864.png 1536w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-laptop-ports-closeup-696x392.png 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-laptop-ports-closeup-1068x601.png 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-laptop-ports-closeup-747x420.png 747w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-93646" class="wp-caption-text">Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe laptop ports closeup. Credit: WindowsLatest.com</figcaption></figure> The 5MP RGB camera with a privacy shutter is an unusual spec for a laptop in this price class, where 1080p or worse is the norm (even in the MacBook Neo). Lenovo also lists an FHD IR camera for all variants, while the base variant of Neo doesn’t even have Touch ID. The 15-inch model also picks up a 120Hz WUXGA IPS panel that supports touch, while every 14-inch configuration on the sheet is listed as non-touch. The OLED options aim at a different kind of buyer, with 100% DCI-P3 coverage and True Black certification on both sizes. <h2>Lenovo has made some obvious compromises to get closer to the MacBook Neo</h2> Not everything about the Vibe is a win over the Neo. The 8GB single-channel memory option is the starting configuration, the keyboard backlight is optional, and the base IPS panel tops out at 60Hz with 45% NTSC color coverage. Most of the higher-capacity storage configurations use QLC instead of TLC flash, and wireless connectivity is capped at Wi-Fi 6. <figure id="attachment_93785" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-93785" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-93785" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Silver.png" alt="Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe in Lowkey Grey" width="1600" height="900" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Silver.png 1600w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Silver-300x169.png 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Silver-1024x576.png 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Silver-768x432.png 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Silver-1536x864.png 1536w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Silver-696x392.png 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Silver-1068x601.png 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Vibe-in-Silver-747x420.png 747w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-93785" class="wp-caption-text">Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe in Lowkey Grey. Credit: WindowsLatest.com</figcaption></figure> Then there’s the McAfee LiveSafe trial preinstalled on every configuration. Microsoft itself has said <a href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/04/21/microsoft-quietly-reveals-whether-you-need-a-third-party-antivirus-software-in-windows-11/">Defender already provides sufficient built-in protection </a>for most Windows 11 users, and after <a href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/07/21/lg-admits-its-monitor-app-installs-bloatware-via-windows-update-and-microsoft-is-letting-it-happen/">LG got caught pushing McAfee ads </a>through a monitor companion app earlier this year, bundling a third-party antivirus trial on a budget laptop feels increasingly unnecessary, but I understand that it would help lower the price of the IdeaPad Vibe. <h2>Not a direct competitor like the Dell XPS 13</h2> Lenovo has taken the basic idea of a colorful, relatively affordable, approachable hardware, and built a far more configurable Windows laptop around it. The seven colors will get most of the attention, but the real story is the customizable 8GB to 32GB of RAM, 256GB to 1TB of storage, 14-inch and 15-inch displays, IPS or OLED, touch or non-touch, two battery options, multiple AMD processors, and a surprisingly wide port selection. The one number we still don’t have is the price. For a MacBook Neo rival, that may end up being the most important specification of all. What do you expect the price of the Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe to be? Sound off in the comments below. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/17/exclusive-lenovos-macbook-neo-rival-starts-at-8gb-ram-full-specs/">Exclusive: Lenovo’s MacBook Neo rival starts at 8GB RAM, full specs</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.windowslatest.com">Windows Latest</a> https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/17/exclusive-lenovos-macbook-neo-rival-starts-at-8gb-ram-full-specs/feed/ 0 Microsoft just rebuilt one of Windows 11’s oldest tools in modern UI, rollout starts in the next few days https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/17/microsoft-just-rebuilt-one-of-windows-11s-oldest-tools-in-modern-ui-rollout-starts-in-the-next-few-days/ https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/17/microsoft-just-rebuilt-one-of-windows-11s-oldest-tools-in-modern-ui-rollout-starts-in-the-next-few-days/#comments Abhijith M B Mon, 17 Aug 2026 11:11:49 +0000 Windows 11 https://www.windowslatest.com/?p=93771 Windows Latest tested the redesigned Print Management app running in Windows 11's Release Preview channel. It keeps every administrative control from the old MMC console, printer queues, drivers, ports, and servers, while looking and behaving like a proper Windows 11 app for the first time. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/17/microsoft-just-rebuilt-one-of-windows-11s-oldest-tools-in-modern-ui-rollout-starts-in-the-next-few-days/">Microsoft just rebuilt one of Windows 11’s oldest tools in modern UI, rollout starts in the next few days</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.windowslatest.com">Windows Latest</a> In a surprising move, Microsoft has already moved its new WinUI 3-based Print Management tool into the Windows 11 Release Preview channel, bringing the decades-old printer administration utility much closer to regular PCs. We tested it on our test PC with the latest Release Preview update. Windows 11 Builds <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-insider/release-notes/release-preview-24h2-25h2/build-26100-9267-26200-9267">26100.9267 and 26200.9267, also known as KB5120998</a>, went out to Release Preview on August 14, 2026, for both 24H2 and 25H2. Release Preview is the last stop before an update reaches everyone, which makes this appearance more significant than the earlier sightings in Beta and Experimental builds. <img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-93774" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/new-WinUI-based-Print-Management-tool.jpg" alt="new WinUI-based Print Management tool" width="1759" height="944" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/new-WinUI-based-Print-Management-tool.jpg 1759w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/new-WinUI-based-Print-Management-tool-300x161.jpg 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/new-WinUI-based-Print-Management-tool-1024x550.jpg 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/new-WinUI-based-Print-Management-tool-768x412.jpg 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/new-WinUI-based-Print-Management-tool-1536x824.jpg 1536w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/new-WinUI-based-Print-Management-tool-696x374.jpg 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/new-WinUI-based-Print-Management-tool-1068x573.jpg 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/new-WinUI-based-Print-Management-tool-783x420.jpg 783w" sizes="(max-width: 1759px) 100vw, 1759px" /> Print Management has existed as an MMC-style administrative console for years, mostly untouched while Microsoft rebuilt much of the rest of Windows 11. Fortunately, as with several other legacy dialogs, 2026 is the year Microsoft finally started working through this backlog. <figure id="attachment_93182" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-93182" style="width: 1920px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-93182" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-11s-new-WinUI-3-based-Print-Management-app-replacing-the-legacy-MMC-printer-admin-tool.jpg" alt="The old, MMC-based Print Management console." width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-11s-new-WinUI-3-based-Print-Management-app-replacing-the-legacy-MMC-printer-admin-tool.jpg 1920w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-11s-new-WinUI-3-based-Print-Management-app-replacing-the-legacy-MMC-printer-admin-tool-300x169.jpg 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-11s-new-WinUI-3-based-Print-Management-app-replacing-the-legacy-MMC-printer-admin-tool-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-11s-new-WinUI-3-based-Print-Management-app-replacing-the-legacy-MMC-printer-admin-tool-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-11s-new-WinUI-3-based-Print-Management-app-replacing-the-legacy-MMC-printer-admin-tool-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-11s-new-WinUI-3-based-Print-Management-app-replacing-the-legacy-MMC-printer-admin-tool-696x392.jpg 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-11s-new-WinUI-3-based-Print-Management-app-replacing-the-legacy-MMC-printer-admin-tool-1068x601.jpg 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-11s-new-WinUI-3-based-Print-Management-app-replacing-the-legacy-MMC-printer-admin-tool-747x420.jpg 747w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-93182" class="wp-caption-text">The old, MMC-based Print Management console.</figcaption></figure> <h2>Microsoft’s new Windows 11 Print Management is already in Release Preview</h2> We have confirmed that the new Print Management app is present in Release Preview, following its earlier appearance in Beta and Experimental builds. We were among the first to spot it in early August, and <a href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/02/windows-11s-winui-3-modernization-just-reached-one-of-its-oldest-legacy-tools-meet-the-new-print-management/">covered the WinUI 3 rebuild in detail</a>, when it was still an early Insider experiment, sitting alongside the old MMC-based console with no word from Microsoft about replacing it. Microsoft usually doesn’t send half-baked experiments to the Release Preview channel for Insiders, so its presence here means it’s about to ship broadly. <img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-93819" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/New-WinUI-based-Print-Management-Tool-is-available-in-Release-Preview-for-Insiders.jpg" alt="New WinUI-based Print Management Tool is available in Release Preview for Insiders" width="1369" height="751" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/New-WinUI-based-Print-Management-Tool-is-available-in-Release-Preview-for-Insiders.jpg 1369w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/New-WinUI-based-Print-Management-Tool-is-available-in-Release-Preview-for-Insiders-300x165.jpg 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/New-WinUI-based-Print-Management-Tool-is-available-in-Release-Preview-for-Insiders-1024x562.jpg 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/New-WinUI-based-Print-Management-Tool-is-available-in-Release-Preview-for-Insiders-768x421.jpg 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/New-WinUI-based-Print-Management-Tool-is-available-in-Release-Preview-for-Insiders-696x382.jpg 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/New-WinUI-based-Print-Management-Tool-is-available-in-Release-Preview-for-Insiders-1068x586.jpg 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/New-WinUI-based-Print-Management-Tool-is-available-in-Release-Preview-for-Insiders-766x420.jpg 766w" sizes="(max-width: 1369px) 100vw, 1369px" /> <h3>The August optional update is the next step</h3> Here’s how the rollout is shaping up: <ul> <li>August 14: KB5120998 reached Release Preview as builds 26100.9267 and 26200.9267.</li> <li>Late August: KB5120998 is expected to become the optional, non-security preview update for supported Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 PCs.</li> <li>September 8 (second Tuesday): The changes from the August preview are expected to roll into the regular September cumulative update, following Microsoft’s normal monthly servicing model.</li> </ul> The September date isn’t guaranteed, though. Microsoft could still hold Print Management back even if the rest of KB5120998 moves forward on schedule. The company’s Release Preview notes don’t specifically list Print Management in the changelog either. So, what exactly are Windows 11 users getting when this rolls out? <h2>Windows 11’s new Print Management looks modern, but Microsoft kept the useful stuff</h2> One look at the two versions side by side and the difference is obvious. The old Print Management console looks like a product that escaped from an older version of Windows, complete with a File/Action/View/Help menu bar and a cramped three-pane tree view straight out of Server Manager. <img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-93776" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/New-Print-Management-WinUI-app.gif" alt="New Print Management WinUI app" width="1438" height="836" /> The new one looks like a Windows 11 app, with a hamburger menu, modern spacing, and dialogs that match the rest of the OS. <h3>The new Print Management app is still a serious administration tool</h3> It isn’t just a screen for picking your default printer. Administrators and power users can manage printers and print queues, printer drivers, printer ports, print servers, shared printers, and driver configuration. Our earlier testing found all of these areas remain available, just reorganized. The main window presents All Printers, All Drivers, Printers Not Ready, and Printers with Jobs through a modern sidebar, alongside a Print Servers section that expands to show Drivers, Forms, Ports, and Printers. <figure id="attachment_93173" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-93173" style="width: 602px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-93173" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/printappviewmenuandmenucollapsed.png" alt="Print Management App with menu collapsed and opening the view menu" width="602" height="379" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/printappviewmenuandmenucollapsed.png 602w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/printappviewmenuandmenucollapsed-300x189.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 602px) 100vw, 602px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-93173" class="wp-caption-text">Print Management App with menu collapsed and opening the view menu</figcaption></figure> The column selector has been modernized too, letting you pick what shows up in the list, including printer name, queue status, jobs in queue, server name, driver name, and driver version, through a clean Add/Remove Columns panel instead of a cramped right-click menu. <figure id="attachment_93171" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-93171" style="width: 602px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-93171" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/addorremovecolumns.png" alt="Add or remove columns options" width="602" height="379" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/addorremovecolumns.png 602w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/addorremovecolumns-300x189.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 602px) 100vw, 602px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-93171" class="wp-caption-text">The modernized Add/Remove Columns panel</figcaption></figure> Rename Printer is now a simple modern dialog with a single text field and OK/Cancel buttons. <figure id="attachment_93172" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-93172" style="width: 602px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-93172" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/moderndialog.png" alt="The new Rename Printer dialog." width="602" height="379" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/moderndialog.png 602w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/moderndialog-300x189.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 602px) 100vw, 602px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-93172" class="wp-caption-text">The new Rename Printer dialog.</figcaption></figure> Driver Properties still shows the same info as before with driver file paths, config files, dependent files, laid out in a scrollable list that’s easier to read. <figure id="attachment_93170" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-93170" style="width: 602px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-93170" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/driverproperties.png" alt="Driver Properties dialog has been updated too." width="602" height="379" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/driverproperties.png 602w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/driverproperties-300x189.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 602px) 100vw, 602px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-93170" class="wp-caption-text">Driver Properties dialog has been updated too.</figcaption></figure> The printer migration screen also confirms Microsoft isn’t stripping out the administrative side of the tool, letting you review which print queues, drivers, and ports are about to get exported. <figure id="attachment_93169" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-93169" style="width: 602px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-93169" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/exampleofalegacydialog.png" alt="An example of a dialog in the app that hasn't been modernized yet." width="602" height="439" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/exampleofalegacydialog.png 602w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/exampleofalegacydialog-300x219.png 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/exampleofalegacydialog-576x420.png 576w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/exampleofalegacydialog-324x235.png 324w" sizes="(max-width: 602px) 100vw, 602px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-93169" class="wp-caption-text">An example of a dialog in the app that hasn’t been modernized yet.</figcaption></figure> And yes, this confirms that there’s still some legacy baggage left. Earlier testing also found users had to launch the app with Run as administrator manually, and some dialogs still open the older-looking interface. Don’t call this a complete replacement yet, as Microsoft could still change the app, delay it, or keep the classic MMC version running together with it. Release Preview makes the wider rollout far more likely, but it doesn’t confirm Microsoft has officially retired the old console. <figure id="attachment_93773" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-93773" style="width: 1055px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-93773" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/new-and-old-Print-Management-tools.jpg" alt="new and old Print Management tools" width="1055" height="490" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/new-and-old-Print-Management-tools.jpg 1055w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/new-and-old-Print-Management-tools-300x139.jpg 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/new-and-old-Print-Management-tools-1024x476.jpg 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/new-and-old-Print-Management-tools-768x357.jpg 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/new-and-old-Print-Management-tools-696x323.jpg 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/new-and-old-Print-Management-tools-904x420.jpg 904w" sizes="(max-width: 1055px) 100vw, 1055px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-93773" class="wp-caption-text">New and old Print Management tools</figcaption></figure> <h2>Microsoft is finally cleaning up Windows 11’s legacy UI</h2> For the past few months, Windows Latest has been tracking Microsoft’s work on switching legacy elements in Windows 11 to WinUI 3, as opposed to the earlier habit of adding dark mode onto decades-old code! March Rogers, Microsoft’s Partner Director of Design, <a href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/07/22/first-look-windows-11-is-replacing-windows-95-era-properties-dialog-now-with-dark-mode-and-winui/">confirmed the new File Explorer Properties dialog was rebuilt in WinUI 3</a> from scratch, with more of Windows UI getting similar treatment. <figure id="attachment_92701" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-92701" style="width: 1728px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-92701" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/File-Explorer-modern-Properties-dialog.jpg" alt="File Explorer modern Properties dialog" width="1728" height="1080" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/File-Explorer-modern-Properties-dialog.jpg 1728w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/File-Explorer-modern-Properties-dialog-300x188.jpg 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/File-Explorer-modern-Properties-dialog-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/File-Explorer-modern-Properties-dialog-768x480.jpg 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/File-Explorer-modern-Properties-dialog-1536x960.jpg 1536w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/File-Explorer-modern-Properties-dialog-696x435.jpg 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/File-Explorer-modern-Properties-dialog-1068x668.jpg 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/File-Explorer-modern-Properties-dialog-672x420.jpg 672w" sizes="(max-width: 1728px) 100vw, 1728px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-92701" class="wp-caption-text">File Explorer modern Properties dialog</figcaption></figure> Microsoft has also been <a href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/07/07/windows-11-rejuvenation-list-just-got-longer-with-more-legacy-dialogs-headed-to-winui-3/">working through the old file-copy dialogs, the Run dialog, and other legacy pieces one at a time</a> this year. The Run dialog rewrite is a good example of the payoff, with Microsoft’s telemetry showing the new WinUI 3 version loading in 94ms, faster than the 103ms median for the Windows 95-era version it replaced. <img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-89466" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/New-Windows-11-Run-with-history.png" alt="New Windows 11 Run with history" width="1030" height="354" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/New-Windows-11-Run-with-history.png 1030w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/New-Windows-11-Run-with-history-300x103.png 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/New-Windows-11-Run-with-history-1024x352.png 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/New-Windows-11-Run-with-history-768x264.png 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/New-Windows-11-Run-with-history-696x239.png 696w" sizes="(max-width: 1030px) 100vw, 1030px" /> Autoplay is next in line, <a href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/16/windows-11-is-heading-for-a-new-look-as-microsoft-replaces-another-legacy-interface-with-winui-3/">and Windows Latest already got a look at its new design</a>, moving from a small top-right flyout to a proper centered dialog for the first time since Windows 7. <img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-93746" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AutoPlay-in-Windows-11.jpg" alt="AutoPlay in Windows 11" width="1230" height="1073" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AutoPlay-in-Windows-11.jpg 1230w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AutoPlay-in-Windows-11-300x262.jpg 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AutoPlay-in-Windows-11-1024x893.jpg 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AutoPlay-in-Windows-11-768x670.jpg 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AutoPlay-in-Windows-11-696x607.jpg 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AutoPlay-in-Windows-11-1068x932.jpg 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AutoPlay-in-Windows-11-481x420.jpg 481w" sizes="(max-width: 1230px) 100vw, 1230px" /> Of course, making a printer window prettier isn’t the important part here. And we are not justifying the company’s decision to do all this work after the backlash that Windows 11 has amassed. Either way, Microsoft is finally touching the less glamorous parts of Windows that most people rarely see until they need them. Print Management is not a headline feature, but it’s part of the cleanup Windows needs. If Microsoft can modernize these old administrative tools without taking away the controls power users depend on, Windows 11 will slowly stop feeling like several generations of the OS stitched together. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/17/microsoft-just-rebuilt-one-of-windows-11s-oldest-tools-in-modern-ui-rollout-starts-in-the-next-few-days/">Microsoft just rebuilt one of Windows 11’s oldest tools in modern UI, rollout starts in the next few days</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.windowslatest.com">Windows Latest</a> https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/17/microsoft-just-rebuilt-one-of-windows-11s-oldest-tools-in-modern-ui-rollout-starts-in-the-next-few-days/feed/ 0 Windows 11 is fully removing a legacy tool that malware and ransomware have abused for years, meet WMIC https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/17/windows-11-is-losing-a-legacy-tool-wmic-hat-malware-and-ransomware-have-abused-for-years/ https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/17/windows-11-is-losing-a-legacy-tool-wmic-hat-malware-and-ransomware-have-abused-for-years/#comments Mayank Parmar Mon, 17 Aug 2026 01:36:10 +0000 Windows 11 https://www.windowslatest.com/?p=93766 Microsoft is cleaning up Windows 11 and removing multiple legacy features, starting with WMIC, in hopes that it makes the OS more secure. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/17/windows-11-is-losing-a-legacy-tool-wmic-hat-malware-and-ransomware-have-abused-for-years/">Windows 11 is fully removing a legacy tool that malware and ransomware have abused for years, meet WMIC</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.windowslatest.com">Windows Latest</a> Microsoft is cleaning up Windows 11 and removing multiple legacy features, starting with WMIC, in hopes that it makes the OS more secure. And it’s necessary, as the company itself warned that AI is a major security threat and even <a href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/07/14/microsoft-admits-ai-is-exploiting-windows-11-bugs-in-hours-warns-against-delaying-updates-past-3-days/">recommended that users not delay updates for more than three days</a>. Microsoft has now started laying the groundwork to fully remove the Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line (WMIC) tool from Windows 11, which has been abused by malware and ransomware for years. WMIC was disabled last year, but it wasn’t fully removed, and that changes with the August 2026 Update. <h2>What is WMIC and why is it being removed for Windows 11’s security?</h2> <img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-93767" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WMIC-in-Windows-11.jpg" alt="WMIC in Windows 11" width="1336" height="1420" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WMIC-in-Windows-11.jpg 1336w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WMIC-in-Windows-11-282x300.jpg 282w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WMIC-in-Windows-11-963x1024.jpg 963w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WMIC-in-Windows-11-768x816.jpg 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WMIC-in-Windows-11-696x740.jpg 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WMIC-in-Windows-11-1068x1135.jpg 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WMIC-in-Windows-11-395x420.jpg 395w" sizes="(max-width: 1336px) 100vw, 1336px" /> Windows 11 24H2, 25H2, and 26H2 will stop shipping with anything related to WMIC, but what exactly is it, and how did it make PCs vulnerable? WMIC was/is used by IT admins to automate and query Windows system settings or hardware/network configurations, so it’s primarily an enterprise tool, but it remained available on all PCs. As a result, even “regular” home users were targeted by malware and ransomware that abused WMIC. Microsoft later confirmed it would remove WMIC because PowerShell and other tools are already more than enough for those who relied on the legacy tool, and Windows 11 25H2 finally disabled it. However, right now, WMIC is not fully removed, and it’s still included in Windows 11 24H2 or 25H2 as a Feature on Demand (FoD). WMIC was already removed by default from newer Windows 11 installations, but administrators could still bring it back through Optional Features or DISM, which means the feature was never entirely gone. In a new <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-insider/release-notes/release-preview-24h2-25h2/build-26100-9267-26200-9267#:~:text=Instrumentation%20Command%2Dline%20(-,WMIC,-)%5D%20Starting%20in" target="_blank" rel="noopener">document</a>, Microsoft says Windows 11 will no longer include WMIC starting with the August 2026 Patch Tuesday update, and you won’t be able to bring it back. “Starting in August 2026, Windows 11, versions 24H2 and 25H2 no longer include the Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line (WMIC) utility,” Microsoft noted in the release notes spotted by Windows Latest. “WMIC is already removed by default in new installations of Windows 11, versions 24H2 and 25H2, and is no longer available as a Feature on Demand (FoD).” It’s good news for everyone because WMIC has been abused to attack even regular consumers, and its removal should improve Windows 11’s security, the company argues. For those unaware, WMIC, which remained available in Windows 11 until August 2026, is considered a LOLBIN, or living-off-the-land binary. That means it is a real Microsoft-signed Windows executable that bad actors can abuse during an attack instead of deploying their own tools. Threat actors have abused WMIC to identify installed antivirus products and even remove security apps, so they can access data on a compromised PC. <h2>Microsoft has been removing WMIC in stages</h2> Microsoft has not been ignoring WMIC as a security threat, but it’s taken a slow approach to avoid breaking integrations for enterprises. <img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-93768" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-WMIC-retirement.jpg" alt="Windows WMIC retirement" width="1261" height="535" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-WMIC-retirement.jpg 1261w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-WMIC-retirement-300x127.jpg 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-WMIC-retirement-1024x434.jpg 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-WMIC-retirement-768x326.jpg 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-WMIC-retirement-696x295.jpg 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-WMIC-retirement-1068x453.jpg 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-WMIC-retirement-990x420.jpg 990w" sizes="(max-width: 1261px) 100vw, 1261px" /> For example, it first deprecated WMIC in Windows 10 21H1 in 2021, and version 22H2 converted WMIC into a Feature on Demand. Windows 11 25H2 disabled it by default, but you could still enable it. Now, WMIC will no longer simply be disabled or absent by default. The FoD itself is being removed. “Microsoft recommends using PowerShell and other modern tools for any tasks previously done with WMIC. You can consider programmatic alternatives such as WMI’s COM API, .NET libraries, or scripting languages. Once you decide on your way forward, please update your internal IT documentation and processes,” the company <a href="https://admin.microsoft.com/#/MessageCenter/:/messages/MC1153657">said</a> in a document. Microsoft also explained that it’s been investing heavily in PowerShell, which now makes it easier to query WMI, and that WMIC is no longer required. “Removing a deprecated component helps reduce complexity while keeping you secure and productive,” the company said in 2027. Microsoft noted that the complete removal only affects the outdated WMIC command-line utility. Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI), the underlying Windows management infrastructure, remains supported. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/17/windows-11-is-losing-a-legacy-tool-wmic-hat-malware-and-ransomware-have-abused-for-years/">Windows 11 is fully removing a legacy tool that malware and ransomware have abused for years, meet WMIC</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.windowslatest.com">Windows Latest</a> https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/17/windows-11-is-losing-a-legacy-tool-wmic-hat-malware-and-ransomware-have-abused-for-years/feed/ 0 Ubuntu is growing faster on Windows 11 than on native Linux PCs, says Canonical https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/16/ubuntu-is-growing-faster-on-windows-11-than-on-native-linux-pcs-says-canonical/ https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/16/ubuntu-is-growing-faster-on-windows-11-than-on-native-linux-pcs-says-canonical/#comments Abhijith M B Sun, 16 Aug 2026 13:10:12 +0000 Windows 11 https://www.windowslatest.com/?p=93750 Jon Seager, Canonical's VP of Engineering, says developers handed Windows laptops by employers are increasingly running Ubuntu through WSL for AI and machine learning work. Microsoft keeps improving WSL and shipped WSL Containers in 2026, turning Windows 11 into a genuine Linux development platform. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/16/ubuntu-is-growing-faster-on-windows-11-than-on-native-linux-pcs-says-canonical/">Ubuntu is growing faster on Windows 11 than on native Linux PCs, says Canonical</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.windowslatest.com">Windows Latest</a> Canonical’s VP of Engineering says Ubuntu’s user base inside Windows Subsystem for Linux is growing significantly faster than its native desktop user base, and he expects WSL to overtake native Ubuntu installations within months. Jon Seager made the comment in a deep dive with The Pragmatic Engineer‘s Gergely Orosz, published April 28, 2026. Funnily enough, Microsoft built WSL so developers could use Linux without leaving Windows. Instead, it turned a growing number of Windows PCs into functional Linux development machines, with Windows serving as little more than the launcher. <figure id="attachment_88457" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-88457" style="width: 1920px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-88457" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Ubuntu-running-via-Windows-Subsystem-for-Linux.png" alt="Ubuntu running via Windows Subsystem for Linux" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Ubuntu-running-via-Windows-Subsystem-for-Linux.png 1920w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Ubuntu-running-via-Windows-Subsystem-for-Linux-300x169.png 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Ubuntu-running-via-Windows-Subsystem-for-Linux-1024x576.png 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Ubuntu-running-via-Windows-Subsystem-for-Linux-768x432.png 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Ubuntu-running-via-Windows-Subsystem-for-Linux-1536x864.png 1536w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Ubuntu-running-via-Windows-Subsystem-for-Linux-696x392.png 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Ubuntu-running-via-Windows-Subsystem-for-Linux-1068x601.png 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Ubuntu-running-via-Windows-Subsystem-for-Linux-747x420.png 747w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-88457" class="wp-caption-text">Ubuntu running via Windows Subsystem for Linux. Source: Ubuntu</figcaption></figure> <h2>Ubuntu is growing faster on Windows 11 through WSL</h2> Jon Seager is VP of Engineering at Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu. <a href="https://newsletter.pragmaticengineer.com/p/ubuntu-and-ai">Speaking to Orosz</a>, he mentioned something that would surprise users still thinking of Windows and Linux as rivals. “In a year, the growth in our WSL numbers is significantly higher than the growth in Desktop usage numbers.” Seager followed that with an almost hard-to-believe statement: “I expect to see more Ubuntu WSL users than ‘native’ Ubuntu users over the coming months.” <img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-93756" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-Subsystem-for-Linux-WSL-scaled.jpeg" alt="Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)" width="2560" height="1440" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-Subsystem-for-Linux-WSL-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-Subsystem-for-Linux-WSL-300x169.jpeg 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-Subsystem-for-Linux-WSL-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-Subsystem-for-Linux-WSL-768x432.jpeg 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-Subsystem-for-Linux-WSL-1536x864.jpeg 1536w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-Subsystem-for-Linux-WSL-2048x1152.jpeg 2048w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-Subsystem-for-Linux-WSL-696x392.jpeg 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-Subsystem-for-Linux-WSL-1068x601.jpeg 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-Subsystem-for-Linux-WSL-747x420.jpeg 747w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /> Of course, Canonical isn’t saying Windows now has more Linux users than Linux itself. Seager is comparing Ubuntu through WSL against Ubuntu installed natively on a Linux PC, and the WSL side is on track to win. Seager says Canonical hears constantly from developers who have been given a Windows machine by their employer, and then discover that their AI or machine learning work needs Linux. <img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-88456" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/WSL-Architecture.png" alt="WSL Architecture" width="968" height="404" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/WSL-Architecture.png 968w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/WSL-Architecture-300x125.png 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/WSL-Architecture-768x321.png 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/WSL-Architecture-696x290.png 696w" sizes="(max-width: 968px) 100vw, 968px" /> With WSL, they don’t have to fight their employer’s hardware policy to get it. Microsoft has also been <a href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/03/31/microsoft-to-upgrade-windows-subsystem-for-linux-wsl-with-faster-file-access-better-networking-and-easier-setup/">upgrading WSL with faster file access, better networking, and easier setup</a> throughout 2026. Jon Seager, VP of Engineering at Canonical, explained how Ubuntu is booming on Windows, and it’s mostly due to WSL: “WSL enables Windows users to “install” Ubuntu for use within their Windows environment. Once installed, users interact with Ubuntu through the Terminal app, and what you’re running literally is Ubuntu. Your home directory is mounted with Ubuntu and you can pull windows out of this terminal to your desktop; as in actual windows as on-screen windows. I expect to see more Ubuntu WSL users than “native” Ubuntu users over the coming months. This is especially true for anyone doing ML or Al work. We’re already hearing from lots of devs who have no choice but to get a Windows machine from their employer, but then find themselves needing to do Al or ML work. With WSL, this is a lot simpler.” <h2>Why developers are turning Windows PCs into Linux machines</h2> WSL lets you run a Linux distribution like Ubuntu directly inside Windows, with Bash, native Linux binaries, and a Linux kernel, without dual-booting or using a virtual machine. The appeal for developers is that even if their employer issues a Windows laptop, and even when their development stack expects Linux, WSL removes the need to dual-boot. Containers work the way they’re supposed to, and AI or ML tooling gets the Linux environment it was built for, all while Windows takes care of the desktop apps and management tools their company requires them to use. Windows dev machines are basically becoming Linux workstations! <figure id="attachment_88458" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-88458" style="width: 954px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-88458" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Satya-Nadella-introducing-WSL-going-Open-Source-at-the-2025-Build-conference.png" alt="Satya Nadella introducing WSL going Open Source at the 2025 Build conference" width="954" height="387" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Satya-Nadella-introducing-WSL-going-Open-Source-at-the-2025-Build-conference.png 954w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Satya-Nadella-introducing-WSL-going-Open-Source-at-the-2025-Build-conference-300x122.png 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Satya-Nadella-introducing-WSL-going-Open-Source-at-the-2025-Build-conference-768x312.png 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Satya-Nadella-introducing-WSL-going-Open-Source-at-the-2025-Build-conference-696x282.png 696w" sizes="(max-width: 954px) 100vw, 954px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-88458" class="wp-caption-text">Satya Nadella introducing WSL going Open Source at the 2025 Build conference</figcaption></figure> <a href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/07/02/hands-on-with-linux-container-using-wsl-container-on-windows-11-without-docker-desktop/">We tested WSL Containers ourselves</a>, which is Microsoft’s way of building and running Linux containers on Windows 11 without Docker Desktop. Running uname -a inside one of these containers returns an actual Linux kernel string, instead of a translation layer. <img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-91792" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Running-uname-a-inside-a-WSL-container-confirms-it-is-a-real-Linux-kernel-not-a-translation-layer.png" alt="Running uname -a inside a WSL container confirms it is a real Linux kernel, not a translation layer" width="1157" height="232" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Running-uname-a-inside-a-WSL-container-confirms-it-is-a-real-Linux-kernel-not-a-translation-layer.png 1157w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Running-uname-a-inside-a-WSL-container-confirms-it-is-a-real-Linux-kernel-not-a-translation-layer-300x60.png 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Running-uname-a-inside-a-WSL-container-confirms-it-is-a-real-Linux-kernel-not-a-translation-layer-1024x205.png 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Running-uname-a-inside-a-WSL-container-confirms-it-is-a-real-Linux-kernel-not-a-translation-layer-768x154.png 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Running-uname-a-inside-a-WSL-container-confirms-it-is-a-real-Linux-kernel-not-a-translation-layer-696x140.png 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Running-uname-a-inside-a-WSL-container-confirms-it-is-a-real-Linux-kernel-not-a-translation-layer-1068x214.png 1068w" sizes="(max-width: 1157px) 100vw, 1157px" /> A developer doesn’t need to choose Windows or Linux anymore. WSL turns Windows into the host and Linux into the working environment. <h2>Microsoft keeps making WSL better for AI and developers</h2> In 2026, Redmond treated WSL as one of the most important things for developers using Windows 11, promising faster file transfers between Linux and Windows, stronger networking, and a smoother setup process, which are all things that used to push developers toward a Mac. Then came WSL Containers. <a href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/06/28/microsoft-denies-wsl-3-exists-reveals-windows-11s-wsl-containers-ship-next-week/">Microsoft first denied that a version called WSL 3 was even real</a>, clarifying that WSL Containers, not a new WSL version, was what people had spotted at Build 2026. <img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-90399" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/WSL-Containers-in-Windows-11.png" alt="WSL Containers in Windows 11" width="1270" height="728" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/WSL-Containers-in-Windows-11.png 1270w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/WSL-Containers-in-Windows-11-300x172.png 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/WSL-Containers-in-Windows-11-1024x587.png 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/WSL-Containers-in-Windows-11-768x440.png 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/WSL-Containers-in-Windows-11-696x399.png 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/WSL-Containers-in-Windows-11-1068x612.png 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/WSL-Containers-in-Windows-11-733x420.png 733w" sizes="(max-width: 1270px) 100vw, 1270px" /> It shipped as a public preview with a Docker-like CLI called wslc, and in live testing by Microsoft showed GPU passthrough worked well enough to run a CUDA-based PyTorch model directly inside a Linux container. <img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-91547" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GPU-being-used-for-WSL-Container.png" alt="GPU being used for WSL Container" width="1920" height="1076" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GPU-being-used-for-WSL-Container.png 1920w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GPU-being-used-for-WSL-Container-300x168.png 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GPU-being-used-for-WSL-Container-1024x574.png 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GPU-being-used-for-WSL-Container-768x430.png 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GPU-being-used-for-WSL-Container-1536x861.png 1536w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GPU-being-used-for-WSL-Container-696x390.png 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GPU-being-used-for-WSL-Container-1068x599.png 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GPU-being-used-for-WSL-Container-749x420.png 749w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /> Microsoft has little reason to push developers off Windows when they can give users Linux inside Windows, keeping the desktop, the enterprise management tools, and the ecosystem, while developers get the Linux environment for work. <h2>Ubuntu is preparing for the AI PC, not just Linux desktops</h2> Seager also described a push toward proper GPU, NPU, and DPU support, hardware partnerships with NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel, and CPU architecture optimization that makes Ubuntu run faster on newer chips without dropping support for older ones. <img decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-91598 size-full" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Ubuntu-UI.webp" alt="Ubuntu UI" width="2557" height="1321" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Ubuntu-UI.webp 2557w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Ubuntu-UI-300x155.webp 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Ubuntu-UI-1024x529.webp 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Ubuntu-UI-768x397.webp 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Ubuntu-UI-1536x794.webp 1536w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Ubuntu-UI-2048x1058.webp 2048w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Ubuntu-UI-696x360.webp 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Ubuntu-UI-1068x552.webp 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Ubuntu-UI-813x420.webp 813w" sizes="(max-width: 2557px) 100vw, 2557px" /> Ubuntu is also betting on local-first AI, building “inference snaps” that pick the right model and quantization automatically, along with early exploration into agentic workflows at the OS level. Ubuntu 26.04 LTS already ships with native support for both NVIDIA CUDA and AMD ROCm. <h2>Windows may be becoming Linux’s biggest developer platform</h2> Windows won developers for decades on applications, enterprise compatibility, and hardware support. Linux won developers who wanted Linux tooling. WSL quietly removed most of the trade-off, and containers make the case even stronger. Our WSL Containers testing showed Microsoft treating Linux workloads as a first-class citizen inside Windows. <figure id="attachment_91802" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-91802" style="width: 1206px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-91802" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/The-Flask-server-inside-the-Linux-container-reached-through-localhost-on-Windows-with-no-extra-networking-setup.png" alt="The Flask server inside the Linux container, reached through localhost on Windows with no extra networking setup" width="1206" height="1112" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/The-Flask-server-inside-the-Linux-container-reached-through-localhost-on-Windows-with-no-extra-networking-setup.png 1206w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/The-Flask-server-inside-the-Linux-container-reached-through-localhost-on-Windows-with-no-extra-networking-setup-300x277.png 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/The-Flask-server-inside-the-Linux-container-reached-through-localhost-on-Windows-with-no-extra-networking-setup-1024x944.png 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/The-Flask-server-inside-the-Linux-container-reached-through-localhost-on-Windows-with-no-extra-networking-setup-768x708.png 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/The-Flask-server-inside-the-Linux-container-reached-through-localhost-on-Windows-with-no-extra-networking-setup-696x642.png 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/The-Flask-server-inside-the-Linux-container-reached-through-localhost-on-Windows-with-no-extra-networking-setup-1068x985.png 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/The-Flask-server-inside-the-Linux-container-reached-through-localhost-on-Windows-with-no-extra-networking-setup-456x420.png 456w" sizes="(max-width: 1206px) 100vw, 1206px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-91802" class="wp-caption-text">The Flask server inside the Linux container, reached through localhost on Windows with no extra networking setup</figcaption></figure> Microsoft has gone further with <a href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/06/29/microsoft-called-linux-a-cancer-now-ships-its-own-free-distro-thats-nothing-like-ubuntu-or-fedora/">Azure Linux</a>, the company’s free and open-source Linux distribution for Azure workloads. The software giant that once called Linux “a cancer” now maintains one. Microsoft spent years trying to make Windows the platform developers wanted, and one of its most successful developer features turned out to be Linux. <figure id="attachment_91600" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-91600" style="width: 1366px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-91600" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Microsoft-Azure-LInux.png" alt="Microsoft Azure LInux" width="1366" height="768" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Microsoft-Azure-LInux.png 1366w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Microsoft-Azure-LInux-300x169.png 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Microsoft-Azure-LInux-1024x576.png 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Microsoft-Azure-LInux-768x432.png 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Microsoft-Azure-LInux-696x391.png 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Microsoft-Azure-LInux-1068x600.png 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Microsoft-Azure-LInux-747x420.png 747w" sizes="(max-width: 1366px) 100vw, 1366px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-91600" class="wp-caption-text">Source: GitHub</figcaption></figure> <h2>It’s not perfect, though</h2> WSL is not a replacement for a native Linux desktop. Native Ubuntu is still the better choice for anyone who wants full hardware control and a Linux-first environment. Corporate device management is a constraint too. In large organizations, IT and security teams choose the OS, not the developer, and getting Linux past compliance tooling is harder than recreating a missing app. WSL isn’t universally loved either, and some developers still run into networking issues or licensing restrictions the Docker Desktop alternative was supposed to fix. <h2>The fact is, both operating systems are working together</h2> Under any online post about a bug in Windows or even a new good feature in Windows, there are comments from users who swear switching to Linux from Windows was the best decision they made. However, the old Windows versus Linux argument doesn’t make sense anymore, as it did a decade ago. One PC can run Windows 11 as the desktop, Ubuntu as the Linux environment, containers through WSL, GPU workloads in that environment, and still deploy code directly to Linux servers when it’s done. Naturally, Canonical is getting the win here because Ubuntu reaches developers who might not otherwise install it natively. And if you haven’t guessed it already, Microsoft also benefits here because those developers (or their employers) keep buying and using Windows PCs. Despite despising the disposition, developers still get the environment their work demands. If you’re a developer, which platform do you prefer? Windows, Linux, or WSL? Tell us in the comments. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/16/ubuntu-is-growing-faster-on-windows-11-than-on-native-linux-pcs-says-canonical/">Ubuntu is growing faster on Windows 11 than on native Linux PCs, says Canonical</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.windowslatest.com">Windows Latest</a> https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/16/ubuntu-is-growing-faster-on-windows-11-than-on-native-linux-pcs-says-canonical/feed/ 0 Windows 11 KB5121003 is triggering game crashes and other issues on some PCs https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/16/windows-11-kb5121003-is-triggering-game-crashes-and-causing-other-problems-on-some-pcs/ https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/16/windows-11-kb5121003-is-triggering-game-crashes-and-causing-other-problems-on-some-pcs/#comments Mayank Parmar Sun, 16 Aug 2026 01:05:44 +0000 Windows 11 https://www.windowslatest.com/?p=93740 Windows 11 KB5121003 security update is linked to game crashes and other issues on some PCs, the game studio explains. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/16/windows-11-kb5121003-is-triggering-game-crashes-and-causing-other-problems-on-some-pcs/">Windows 11 KB5121003 is triggering game crashes and other issues on some PCs</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.windowslatest.com">Windows Latest</a> Windows 11 KB5121003 is August 2026’s big security update that fixes over 400 security issues, but it’s causing major issues for some games. Gamers told Windows Latest that ARC Raiders and The Finals are among the games that crash after installing the mandatory update, and the game studio behind both titles says the Windows Update is responsible. “We’re aware of a new crash introduced with the release of a Windows update (KB5121003) that may be affecting some of you,” Embark, the studio behind ARC Raiders, <a href="https://discord.com/channels/1107589599045361695/1107613897357275188/1537853764193624105" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a> in a message on Discord, as first spotted by Windows Latest. “The team is working on a fix, and we will keep you posted on any updates.” KB5121003 is a mandatory Windows Update released on August 11, and it advances PCs to Build 26200.9168 if you’re on version 25H2, and 26100.9168 for those on 24H2. If you’re not sure what build you’re running, you can open Settings > System > About and find the OS build number. <img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-93706" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-11-August-2026-Patch-Tuesday.jpg" alt="Windows 11 August 2026 Patch Tuesday" width="1474" height="1041" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-11-August-2026-Patch-Tuesday.jpg 1474w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-11-August-2026-Patch-Tuesday-300x212.jpg 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-11-August-2026-Patch-Tuesday-1024x723.jpg 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-11-August-2026-Patch-Tuesday-768x542.jpg 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-11-August-2026-Patch-Tuesday-696x492.jpg 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-11-August-2026-Patch-Tuesday-1068x754.jpg 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-11-August-2026-Patch-Tuesday-595x420.jpg 595w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-11-August-2026-Patch-Tuesday-100x70.jpg 100w" sizes="(max-width: 1474px) 100vw, 1474px" /> <a href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/11/i-tested-windows-11-august-2026-update-heres-everything-new-improved-and-fixed/">We’ve been testing the August 2026 Update</a> across our machines, and we’ve not spotted any major problems so far. In the <a href="https://support.microsoft.com/en-US/servicing/os/windows-11/2026/08/kb5121003-windows-11-24h2-25h2-security-update">official release notes</a>, Microsoft also says it is not aware of any issues with the update. However, user reports tell us a different story, and Embark’s statement also confirms that there’s something wrong with Windows 11 KB5121003, at least on some PCs. <h2>Windows 11 KB5121003 is crashing games on some PCs</h2> Shortly after the August 2026 Update rolled out, we started getting messages from gamers, particularly those who play ARC Raiders, saying their game suddenly started crashing. At first, I wondered if it was due to a recent driver update, as we’ve had similar reports in the past where Nvidia or AMD caused issues and the blame shifted to Microsoft. But this time, it looks like Windows 11 KB5121003 made a change that broke compatibility with a driver called inpoutx64.sys. As <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/ArcRaiders/comments/1vmm7k3/any_pc_players_experiencing_frequent_crashes/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">some users noted</a> on Reddit, ARC Raiders started crashing after the update was installed, and there are also reports of system reboots when it happens. One gamer reported six crashes, with some of them immediately rebooting Windows. Windows Latest previously confirmed that the <a href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/15/dont-panic-if-windows-11-reboots-multiple-times-for-security-updates-explained-why-its-happening/">August 2026 Update itself can cause multiple reboots during installation</a> due to the Secure Boot certificate rollout, but that’s different. Those reboots happen while the update is being installed, not while you’re playing a game. If you’re affected, you may see different errors, but reports we’ve seen include “Hang detected on GameThread” and EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION after Windows 11 KB5121003 was installed. Until now, it was unclear what broke games such as ARC Raiders, which worked alright until a few days ago, but Embark has now shed some light on the problem. <h2>Windows 11 KB5121003 appears to have broken compatibility with inpoutx64.sys</h2> It turns out that Windows 11 KB5121003 appears to have made a change that affected compatibility with inpoutx64.sys, which is a third-party kernel-level port access driver used by some hardware utilities and other apps. “This is a crash related to the file inpoutx64.sys, which changed with the Windows update,” Embark <a href="https://discord.com/channels/1107589599045361695/1107613897357275188/1537853764193624105" target="_blank" rel="noopener">noted</a> in a Discord post. “We’re working towards a long-term fix, but in the meantime there is a workaround solution that will safely remove the file in question and allow you to play the game without issue.” Embark also shared the following workaround for affected users: <ol> <li>Open the Start menu in Windows and type ‘cmd’ to find the Command Prompt.</li> <li>Right-click on the Command Prompt and select ‘Run as Administrator’. <img decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-93763" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Run-as-admin-in-Windows-11.jpg" alt="Run as admin in Windows 11" width="585" height="642" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Run-as-admin-in-Windows-11.jpg 1288w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Run-as-admin-in-Windows-11-273x300.jpg 273w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Run-as-admin-in-Windows-11-933x1024.jpg 933w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Run-as-admin-in-Windows-11-768x843.jpg 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Run-as-admin-in-Windows-11-696x764.jpg 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Run-as-admin-in-Windows-11-1068x1172.jpg 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Run-as-admin-in-Windows-11-383x420.jpg 383w" sizes="(max-width: 585px) 100vw, 585px" /></li> <li>In the Command Prompt window, type ‘sc stop inpoutx64’.</li> <li>Press Enter.</li> <li>Then type ‘sc delete inpoutx64’ and press Enter. Close the window.</li> <li>Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Windows\System32\drivers\.</li> <li>Locate the file inpoutx64.sys and delete the file.</li> </ol> Embark’s finding aligns with what we’re <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/ArcRaiders/comments/1vorxka/embark_temp_fix_for_windows_update_kb5121003/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hearing</a> from gamers. For example, one ARC Raiders user who investigated their own crashes found that inpoutx64.sys had been installed by a Razer Update Tool. That user found that simply disabling the inpoutx64 service and restarting the PC was enough to stop the crashes on their machine. However, Embark’s official workaround goes further by stopping and deleting the service and removing inpoutx64.sys. Right now, we don’t know exactly what Windows 11 KB5121003 changed that broke compatibility with inpoutx64.sys, but we’ll likely hear back from Microsoft soon. Several affected users also say removing Windows 11 KB5121003 resolves the issue, which confirms there’s a compatibility problem between the update and the driver. We’re seeing <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/MarvelTokon/comments/1vnpdkd/pc_crashes_after_updated/">similar crash reports</a> involving other games, including Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls. Windows Latest has also seen reports of some anti-cheat-related software crashing, but everything goes back to normal when the update is removed. <h2>Windows 11 August 2026 Update is also causing other issues</h2> The Windows 11 August 2026 Update includes a long list of improvements and fixes, including display-related changes. That also means it’s possible Microsoft may have accidentally created issues on some PCs. <img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-93762" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-Hello-HDR.jpg" alt="Windows Hello HDR" width="1484" height="1050" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-Hello-HDR.jpg 1484w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-Hello-HDR-300x212.jpg 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-Hello-HDR-1024x725.jpg 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-Hello-HDR-768x543.jpg 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-Hello-HDR-696x492.jpg 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-Hello-HDR-1068x756.jpg 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-Hello-HDR-594x420.jpg 594w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-Hello-HDR-100x70.jpg 100w" sizes="(max-width: 1484px) 100vw, 1484px" /> For example, we’ve come across reports of <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/WindowsHelp/comments/1vno4gc/windows_11_keeps_changing_my_refresh_rate/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">display refresh rates unexpectedly dropping</a>, black screens, <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/WindowsUpdate/comments/1vn1x67/hdr_regression_introduced_by_kb5121003_build/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">broken HDR behavior</a>, and other graphics-related problems. Windows Latest is also seeing isolated reports of Windows Hello problems after Windows 11 KB5121003, including a case where PIN credentials have to be re-enrolled after every reboot and another report where Windows fails to load the existing Windows Hello container. “After installing KB5121003 (build 26100.9168/26200.9168), Windows Hello PIN sign-in fails on every single reboot, forcing me to reconnect to my Microsoft account to re-enroll the PIN each time,” one user told Windows Latest in an email. “Windows deletes and recreates the key each reboot (different key GUID every time), but the new key becomes corrupted again by the next boot, an infinite loop.” <h2>What to do if you have issues with Windows 11 KB5121003?</h2> If games are not working after the update, you can try nuking the inpoutx64 driver or locating the software that added the driver to your system. If you have other issues, your best bet is to remove the August patch by going to Settings > Windows Update > Update history > Uninstall updates. <img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-93764" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Uninstall-Windows-11-KB5121003.jpg" alt="Uninstall Windows 11 KB5121003" width="1517" height="578" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Uninstall-Windows-11-KB5121003.jpg 1517w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Uninstall-Windows-11-KB5121003-300x114.jpg 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Uninstall-Windows-11-KB5121003-1024x390.jpg 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Uninstall-Windows-11-KB5121003-768x293.jpg 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Uninstall-Windows-11-KB5121003-696x265.jpg 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Uninstall-Windows-11-KB5121003-1068x407.jpg 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Uninstall-Windows-11-KB5121003-1102x420.jpg 1102w" sizes="(max-width: 1517px) 100vw, 1517px" /> Removing Windows 11 KB5121003 has worked for users who have run into these issues, but I do not recommend uninstalling it unless the problems are serious enough to make your PC unusable. The August 2026 Update is an important release, as <a href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/14/microsoft-install-windows-11s-august-2026-update-within-3-days-400-security-bugs-fixed/">it patches up to 400 security issues</a>, and Microsoft has warned against delaying updates past three days. There are multiple critical bugs addressed in this update, including a zero-day vulnerability known as “LegacyHive,” which gives hackers admin privileges if exploited. You should ideally wait for a fix, Microsoft’s statement, or the September 2026 Update. Unless your PC is unusable, I’d recommend you avoid removing these monthly patches due to rising AI-powered threats. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/16/windows-11-kb5121003-is-triggering-game-crashes-and-causing-other-problems-on-some-pcs/">Windows 11 KB5121003 is triggering game crashes and other issues on some PCs</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.windowslatest.com">Windows Latest</a> https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/16/windows-11-kb5121003-is-triggering-game-crashes-and-causing-other-problems-on-some-pcs/feed/ 0 Windows 11 is heading for a new look as Microsoft replaces another legacy interface with WinUI 3 https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/16/windows-11-is-heading-for-a-new-look-as-microsoft-replaces-another-legacy-interface-with-winui-3/ https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/16/windows-11-is-heading-for-a-new-look-as-microsoft-replaces-another-legacy-interface-with-winui-3/#comments Mayank Parmar Sun, 16 Aug 2026 00:07:02 +0000 Windows 11 https://www.windowslatest.com/?p=93742 Windows 11 appears to be heading for a new look where Microsoft would replace most, if not all, of the legacy dialogs or pop-ups. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/16/windows-11-is-heading-for-a-new-look-as-microsoft-replaces-another-legacy-interface-with-winui-3/">Windows 11 is heading for a new look as Microsoft replaces another legacy interface with WinUI 3</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.windowslatest.com">Windows Latest</a> Windows 11 appears to be heading for a new look where Microsoft would replace most, if not all, of the legacy dialogs or pop-ups you come across in the operating system. This comes at a time when Microsoft admitted WinUI isn’t exactly performance-friendly, and it has plans to make it better as it rolls it out to the shell, beyond just apps. Microsoft officially maintains Fluent Design as the primary design language, and it’s mostly supported by WinUI, which is one of the recommended frameworks for Windows 11. WinUI had appeared to be on the back burner until recently, but <a href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/06/04/microsoft-is-killing-windows-11s-web-app-slop-encourages-devs-to-build-native-apps-using-winui/">Microsoft has clarified it’s fully committed to the framework,</a> and it’ll begin enforcing it for the Windows shell. Now, we’re actually seeing some of the promises become reality, and it no longer appears to be just “talk” or “PR.” It’s understandable why it’s quite difficult to believe because we have had these “Windows is back” moments in the past as well, and nothing really happened because the tech giant headed for reorgs. However, Windows 11’s 2026 rival efforts are different because we’re actually seeing the core engineering and product group engage with consumers, and most changes are already showing in preview builds, which did not happen when the company made similar promises in the past. For example, Microsoft recently teased that it’ll be rolling out a new WinUI-based design for the AutoPlay dialog, and we’re already seeing it in the preview builds. For those unaware, AutoPlay shows up when you connect a phone, USB drive, or any media, including a disc if you have one. The AutoPlay dialog shows up at the top-right corner of the screen and is actually from the Windows 8 era. If you can’t recall or understand what the AutoPlay dialog even is, here’s a screenshot: <img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-93373" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-11-AutoPlay-dialog-box.jpg" alt="Windows 11 AutoPlay dialog box" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-11-AutoPlay-dialog-box.jpg 1920w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-11-AutoPlay-dialog-box-300x169.jpg 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-11-AutoPlay-dialog-box-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-11-AutoPlay-dialog-box-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-11-AutoPlay-dialog-box-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-11-AutoPlay-dialog-box-696x392.jpg 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-11-AutoPlay-dialog-box-1068x601.jpg 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-11-AutoPlay-dialog-box-747x420.jpg 747w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /> I am sure you’ve all seen it at some point when using Windows 11, and if you have a bit of understanding of how WinUI/Fluent Design is supposed to look, you’d immediately notice that the AutoPlay dialog is actually the one from Windows 8. It’s locked to the top-right corner, compared to the centre of the screen we had in Windows 7, and it’s also not possible to have an “Always” remember my choice option. Now, take a look at the new AutoPlay dialog coming to Windows 11: <figure id="attachment_93746" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-93746" style="width: 1230px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-93746 size-full" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AutoPlay-in-Windows-11.jpg" alt="AutoPlay in Windows 11" width="1230" height="1073" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AutoPlay-in-Windows-11.jpg 1230w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AutoPlay-in-Windows-11-300x262.jpg 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AutoPlay-in-Windows-11-1024x893.jpg 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AutoPlay-in-Windows-11-768x670.jpg 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AutoPlay-in-Windows-11-696x607.jpg 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AutoPlay-in-Windows-11-1068x932.jpg 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AutoPlay-in-Windows-11-481x420.jpg 481w" sizes="(max-width: 1230px) 100vw, 1230px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-93746" class="wp-caption-text">Image Courtesy: <a href="https://x.com/phantomofearth/status/2088717734917939240/photo/1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PhantomOfEarth</a></figcaption></figure> It’s beautiful if you like WinUI, but the biggest change isn’t just how it looks. It’s also that it’s no longer a small flyout tucked into the top-right corner of the desktop. I really hated that placement, but it actually made sense on a Windows 8 device, which was optimized for touchscreens. You’d already have your hand around the right side for the Charms bar, after all. In the next update, Microsoft plans to turn AutoPlay into a proper dialog that opens in the centre of the screen, similar to how AutoPlay worked back in the Windows 7 days. It also looks much more consistent with Windows 11, with a dark background, rounded corners, larger icons, and more spacing between each action. <figure id="attachment_93743" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-93743" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-93743 size-full" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-11-modern-AutoPlay-Dialog.jpg" alt="Windows 11 modern AutoPlay Dialog" width="1024" height="768" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-11-modern-AutoPlay-Dialog.jpg 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-11-modern-AutoPlay-Dialog-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-11-modern-AutoPlay-Dialog-768x576.jpg 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-11-modern-AutoPlay-Dialog-696x522.jpg 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-11-modern-AutoPlay-Dialog-560x420.jpg 560w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-11-modern-AutoPlay-Dialog-80x60.jpg 80w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-11-modern-AutoPlay-Dialog-265x198.jpg 265w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-93743" class="wp-caption-text">AutoPlay’s modern design also works in light mode, as shared by Microsoft watcher <a href="https://x.com/techosarusrex/status/2088718240688026025/photo/1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gareth</a> on X:</figcaption></figure> Windows Latest also noticed that the new AutoPlay dialog gives you a choice between “Always” and “Just once.” You can first select what you want Windows to do with the connected device, such as opening File Explorer, and then decide whether Windows should remember that choice or use it only this time. <h2>Windows 11’s redesign efforts go beyond a single dialog</h2> <figure id="attachment_92701" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-92701" style="width: 1728px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-92701" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/File-Explorer-modern-Properties-dialog.jpg" alt="File Explorer modern Properties dialog" width="1728" height="1080" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/File-Explorer-modern-Properties-dialog.jpg 1728w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/File-Explorer-modern-Properties-dialog-300x188.jpg 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/File-Explorer-modern-Properties-dialog-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/File-Explorer-modern-Properties-dialog-768x480.jpg 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/File-Explorer-modern-Properties-dialog-1536x960.jpg 1536w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/File-Explorer-modern-Properties-dialog-696x435.jpg 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/File-Explorer-modern-Properties-dialog-1068x668.jpg 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/File-Explorer-modern-Properties-dialog-672x420.jpg 672w" sizes="(max-width: 1728px) 100vw, 1728px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-92701" class="wp-caption-text">File Explorer modern Properties dialog</figcaption></figure> AutoPlay is not the only feature getting a new look in Windows 11, as we also have the Properties sheet (right-click any folder or file, select Properties) getting a new WinUI-based revamp. <figure id="attachment_92706" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-92706" style="width: 1117px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-92706" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/New-UI-and-old-UI-of-Properties-sheet-in-Windows-11.jpg" alt="New UI and old UI of Properties sheet in Windows 11" width="1117" height="752" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/New-UI-and-old-UI-of-Properties-sheet-in-Windows-11.jpg 1117w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/New-UI-and-old-UI-of-Properties-sheet-in-Windows-11-300x202.jpg 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/New-UI-and-old-UI-of-Properties-sheet-in-Windows-11-1024x689.jpg 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/New-UI-and-old-UI-of-Properties-sheet-in-Windows-11-768x517.jpg 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/New-UI-and-old-UI-of-Properties-sheet-in-Windows-11-696x469.jpg 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/New-UI-and-old-UI-of-Properties-sheet-in-Windows-11-1068x719.jpg 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/New-UI-and-old-UI-of-Properties-sheet-in-Windows-11-624x420.jpg 624w" sizes="(max-width: 1117px) 100vw, 1117px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-92706" class="wp-caption-text">New UI and old UI of Properties sheet in Windows 11</figcaption></figure> The current implementation in the preview builds is early, and it doesn’t look great because of extra padding. But as we get closer to release, it’ll get better. At this point, I am convinced that Windows 11’s 2026 revival efforts are different, and Windows boss Pavan has really delivered on it. We don’t see anything in the public builds yet because it’s all being tested, and some of the highly anticipated changes, such as the movable taskbar and <a href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/06/21/tested-microsoft-just-debloated-windows-11-search-without-bing-and-its-crazy-fast/">Windows Search without Bing</a>, begin shipping in September 2026 with Patch Tuesday. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/16/windows-11-is-heading-for-a-new-look-as-microsoft-replaces-another-legacy-interface-with-winui-3/">Windows 11 is heading for a new look as Microsoft replaces another legacy interface with WinUI 3</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.windowslatest.com">Windows Latest</a> https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/16/windows-11-is-heading-for-a-new-look-as-microsoft-replaces-another-legacy-interface-with-winui-3/feed/ 0 Your PC isn’t broken if it reboots multiple times after Windows 11’s new updates or gets stuck on a black screen https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/15/dont-panic-if-windows-11-reboots-multiple-times-for-security-updates-explained-why-its-happening/ https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/15/dont-panic-if-windows-11-reboots-multiple-times-for-security-updates-explained-why-its-happening/#comments Mayank Parmar Sat, 15 Aug 2026 02:09:31 +0000 Windows 11 https://www.windowslatest.com/?p=93732 Windows PCs are now rebooting multiple times to install monthly cumulative updates, and it seems to be affecting users almost every month. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/15/dont-panic-if-windows-11-reboots-multiple-times-for-security-updates-explained-why-its-happening/">Your PC isn’t broken if it reboots multiple times after Windows 11’s new updates or gets stuck on a black screen</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.windowslatest.com">Windows Latest</a> Windows PCs are now rebooting multiple times to install monthly cumulative updates, and it seems to be affecting some users almost every month since April. Windows Latest understands that it’s mostly tied to Secure Boot certificate updates and other changes, such as firmware updates it requires. <a href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/07/29/missed-windows-11-secure-boot-dont-panic-microsoft-is-still-pushing-it-in-the-coming-months/">Microsoft insists that it is still rolling out the Secure Boot certificate update</a> across millions of PCs running Windows 11 and Windows 10. That means if your PC hasn’t received the new certificates yet, they’re most likely still on the way, unless a critical firmware limitation is preventing the update. <img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-92526" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/OEM-Secure-Boot.jpg" alt="OEM Secure Boot" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/OEM-Secure-Boot.jpg 1920w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/OEM-Secure-Boot-300x169.jpg 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/OEM-Secure-Boot-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/OEM-Secure-Boot-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/OEM-Secure-Boot-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/OEM-Secure-Boot-696x392.jpg 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/OEM-Secure-Boot-1068x601.jpg 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/OEM-Secure-Boot-747x420.jpg 747w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /> Microsoft also previously said Windows PCs may reboot multiple times as part of the Secure Boot certificate rollout, including when the update is delivered alongside cumulative updates. As Microsoft just released the August 2026 update, we’re seeing another round of Secure Boot certificate updates, and that means more reboots. <a href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/11/i-tested-windows-11-august-2026-update-heres-everything-new-improved-and-fixed/">Microsoft rolled out the August 2026 Patch Tuesday</a> update on the 12th of the month, and it <a href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/14/microsoft-install-windows-11s-august-2026-update-within-3-days-400-security-bugs-fixed/">patched as many as 400 security issues</a>. This update advances PCs to Windows 11 Build 26200.9168 on version 25H2, and Build 26100.9168 if you’re on version 24H2. <figure id="attachment_93706" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-93706" style="width: 1474px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-93706 size-full" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-11-August-2026-Patch-Tuesday.jpg" alt="Windows 11 August 2026 Patch Tuesday" width="1474" height="1041" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-11-August-2026-Patch-Tuesday.jpg 1474w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-11-August-2026-Patch-Tuesday-300x212.jpg 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-11-August-2026-Patch-Tuesday-1024x723.jpg 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-11-August-2026-Patch-Tuesday-768x542.jpg 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-11-August-2026-Patch-Tuesday-696x492.jpg 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-11-August-2026-Patch-Tuesday-1068x754.jpg 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-11-August-2026-Patch-Tuesday-595x420.jpg 595w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Windows-11-August-2026-Patch-Tuesday-100x70.jpg 100w" sizes="(max-width: 1474px) 100vw, 1474px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-93706" class="wp-caption-text">August 2026 Patch Tuesday bumps PCs to Build 26200.9168</figcaption></figure> The August 2026 Update is huge because it finally turns on Low Latency Profile (LLP) for app launches, improves how File Explorer displays sizes in Details view, and more. The company also noted that you <a href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/07/14/microsoft-admits-ai-is-exploiting-windows-11-bugs-in-hours-warns-against-delaying-updates-past-3-days/">must not delay updates past three days</a>, as you could risk exposing yourself to AI-powered security threats. In addition, Microsoft confirmed the August release includes a Secure Boot certificate update for more PCs, with the <a href="https://support.microsoft.com/en-US/servicing/os/windows-11/2026/08/kb5121003-windows-11-24h2-25h2-security-update" target="_blank" rel="noopener">changelog</a> clearly specifying: “This update includes additional high confidence device targeting data, increasing coverage of devices eligible to automatically receive new Secure Boot certificates.” This note also appeared in the last couple of cumulative updates for Windows 11, but Microsoft isn’t attaching it randomly. Windows Latest understands that the Secure Boot update is still being rolled out, and I just had a device that was not using the Secure Boot 2023 certificate update; it got it after the August 2026 Update. <img decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-90627" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/When-is-Secure-Boot-Certificate-expiring.png" alt="When is Secure Boot Certificate expiring" width="618" height="406" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/When-is-Secure-Boot-Certificate-expiring.png 1387w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/When-is-Secure-Boot-Certificate-expiring-300x197.png 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/When-is-Secure-Boot-Certificate-expiring-1024x672.png 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/When-is-Secure-Boot-Certificate-expiring-768x504.png 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/When-is-Secure-Boot-Certificate-expiring-696x457.png 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/When-is-Secure-Boot-Certificate-expiring-1068x701.png 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/When-is-Secure-Boot-Certificate-expiring-640x420.png 640w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/When-is-Secure-Boot-Certificate-expiring-741x486.png 741w" sizes="(max-width: 618px) 100vw, 618px" /> “Certificate deployment via Windows updates continues across supported PCs and non-managed business devices in the coming months,” the company explained. But how is Secure Boot and multiple reboots related? My PC once again rebooted twice, took longer than 15 minutes to finish installing Windows 11’s August 2026 Update, and was stuck on a black screen for at least 10 minutes, to the point where I got scared that I might end up becoming a case study for a new bug report. <img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-89474" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Windows-update-rebooting.jpg" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Windows-update-rebooting.jpg 1920w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Windows-update-rebooting-300x169.jpg 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Windows-update-rebooting-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Windows-update-rebooting-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Windows-update-rebooting-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Windows-update-rebooting-696x392.jpg 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Windows-update-rebooting-1068x601.jpg 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Windows-update-rebooting-747x420.jpg 747w" alt="Windows update rebooting" width="1920" height="1080" /> Thankfully, the spinning circle showed up at 93%, and the lock screen appeared. I’ve had other devices reboot multiple times as well, and I’ve been noticing it more often since April 2026. Secure Boot could be one of the reasons in cases where the new certificates are being applied, but the same Secure Boot certificate update should not keep causing multiple reboots every month on the same PC once it has been fully applied. For those who may be unaware, updating a Secure Boot certificate is far more complicated than updating any other certificate because the process involves writing changes into the firmware, and I have some details about the backend process. <h2>Why is Windows rebooting multiple times for a Secure Boot certificate update?</h2> During an Ask Me Anything session I watched, <a href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/05/26/microsoft-reveals-what-happens-to-windows-11-pcs-if-you-ignore-the-secure-boot-deadline-in-june-2026/">Microsoft was asked about exactly this behavior</a> after a device restarted several times while the Secure Boot certificate update was being applied. “There are multiple reboots required for the process of updating the certificates,” Microsoft explained. “Once the certificates are updated, you won’t see these multiple reboots anymore.” So why are multiple reboots required in the first place? Microsoft says it’s because the update is putting something into the firmware. The data has to be written into the firmware, the firmware then needs to apply the updated certificates, and the PC subsequently needs to boot using the newly signed bootloader. <figure id="attachment_87746" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-87746" style="width: 1287px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-87746" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Secure-Boot-Allowed-Key-Exchange-Key-KEK-Update.jpg" alt="Secure Boot Allowed Key Exchange Key (KEK) Update" width="1287" height="857" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Secure-Boot-Allowed-Key-Exchange-Key-KEK-Update.jpg 1287w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Secure-Boot-Allowed-Key-Exchange-Key-KEK-Update-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Secure-Boot-Allowed-Key-Exchange-Key-KEK-Update-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Secure-Boot-Allowed-Key-Exchange-Key-KEK-Update-768x511.jpg 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Secure-Boot-Allowed-Key-Exchange-Key-KEK-Update-696x463.jpg 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Secure-Boot-Allowed-Key-Exchange-Key-KEK-Update-1068x711.jpg 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Secure-Boot-Allowed-Key-Exchange-Key-KEK-Update-631x420.jpg 631w" sizes="(max-width: 1287px) 100vw, 1287px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-87746" class="wp-caption-text">Secure Boot Allowed Key Exchange Key (KEK) Update</figcaption></figure> You might see one reboot while the Secure Boot changes are being staged, another as the firmware applies the updated certificates, and another as Windows starts using the newly signed bootloader. “Most of the time in the automated flow, it’s not as noticeable to the user because the reboot happens really early in the boot process,” Microsoft noted. It’s also worth noting that Secure Boot changes aren’t the only thing that can trigger another reboot. The certificate update itself writes into firmware, and Windows Update can also deliver separate firmware updates. That means if you see another reboot later in the same update cycle, or even during an upcoming cumulative update, it could be caused by a pending firmware or driver update rather than Windows applying the same Secure Boot certificate again. So, you could have multiple reboots when the Secure Boot certificate is first applied, and then another reboot later because Windows Update has a related firmware or driver update waiting to be installed. This could also explain why some PCs appear to reboot multiple times across different monthly updates, even though Microsoft says the certificate update itself is a one-off process. Windows will eventually stop rebooting multiple times, as <a href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/03/21/microsoft-confirms-you-can-now-pause-windows-11-updates-for-as-long-as-you-want-no-more-forced-reboots/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Microsoft has confirmed it’s testing a single-reboot approach</a>, where Windows only reboots once a month for all your updates, including .NET Framework. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/15/dont-panic-if-windows-11-reboots-multiple-times-for-security-updates-explained-why-its-happening/">Your PC isn’t broken if it reboots multiple times after Windows 11’s new updates or gets stuck on a black screen</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.windowslatest.com">Windows Latest</a> https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/15/dont-panic-if-windows-11-reboots-multiple-times-for-security-updates-explained-why-its-happening/feed/ 0 Microsoft confirms it accidentally disabled Copilot in Outlook Classic, and we wish it wasn’t a mistake https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/15/microsoft-confirms-it-accidentally-disabled-copilot-in-outlook-classic-and-we-wish-it-wasnt-a-mistake/ https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/15/microsoft-confirms-it-accidentally-disabled-copilot-in-outlook-classic-and-we-wish-it-wasnt-a-mistake/#comments Mayank Parmar Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:01:50 +0000 Microsoft https://www.windowslatest.com/?p=93722 Microsoft accidentally broke Copilot integration in Outlook Classic while trying to integrate more AI-powered features. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/15/microsoft-confirms-it-accidentally-disabled-copilot-in-outlook-classic-and-we-wish-it-wasnt-a-mistake/">Microsoft confirms it accidentally disabled Copilot in Outlook Classic, and we wish it wasn’t a mistake</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.windowslatest.com">Windows Latest</a> Microsoft accidentally broke Copilot integration in Outlook Classic while trying to integrate more AI-powered features, and some users are actually happy. I don’t blame them, given how Microsoft is aggressively pushing AI in Outlook, even when it knows it doesn’t work well and often refuses to follow instructions. Microsoft no longer releases new features for Outlook Classic unless it’s AI-related, and the most recent update added the Copilot button to the Ribbon menu. We were later told that you’ll soon be able to <a href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/07/23/outlook-classic-is-the-next-office-app-to-get-always-visible-copilot-requires-microsoft-365-copilot/">create AI-generated emails directly from a new Copilot flyout</a> that appears within the compose box. <img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-92572" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Outlook-Classic-with-Copilot.jpg" alt="Outlook Classic with Copilot" width="1371" height="625" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Outlook-Classic-with-Copilot.jpg 1371w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Outlook-Classic-with-Copilot-300x137.jpg 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Outlook-Classic-with-Copilot-1024x467.jpg 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Outlook-Classic-with-Copilot-768x350.jpg 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Outlook-Classic-with-Copilot-696x317.jpg 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Outlook-Classic-with-Copilot-1068x487.jpg 1068w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Outlook-Classic-with-Copilot-921x420.jpg 921w" sizes="(max-width: 1371px) 100vw, 1371px" /> This was already available in Outlook (new), and it began rolling out to Outlook Classic recently. Later, Windows Latest spotted that <a href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/07/microsoft-found-another-way-to-force-copilot-on-you-in-outlook-and-its-called-wrap-up-your-day/">you can soon double-click text in Outlook</a> and ask AI for a context-friendly explanation. Turns out that at one point, while trying to add more AI features to Outlook Classic, Microsoft might have broken the entire integration. And that means Copilot disappeared from Outlook Classic entirely. It’s not exactly bad news, but it could be for those who actually paid for a Copilot license. In a <a href="https://support.microsoft.com/en-US/Support/known-issues/copilot-buttons-gone-classic-outlook-windows#wl" target="_blank" rel="noopener">support document</a>, Microsoft confirmed that it’s aware of the issue and plans to patch it up in the coming days. “After classic Outlook for Windows updates to build 20026.20182 and higher, you no longer have Copilot Chat or Copilot entry points in Outlook,” Microsoft noted in a support document first spotted by Windows Latest. “This issue happens if you have a Copilot Chat (Basic) license or a paid M365 Copilot (Premium) account. For more information about how to check your license, go to What Copilot license do I have.” If you are affected, you’ll no longer have Copilot in Outlook Classic, and you can verify if you’re affected by following these steps: <ul> <li>Look at the Ribbon menu. Is Copilot missing? It’s a bug, and it’ll be added back unless you turn it off from Settings. <img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-93020" src="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Copilot-in-Outlook-Classic.png" alt="Copilot in Outlook Classic" width="2034" height="364" srcset="https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Copilot-in-Outlook-Classic.png 2034w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Copilot-in-Outlook-Classic-300x54.png 300w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Copilot-in-Outlook-Classic-1024x183.png 1024w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Copilot-in-Outlook-Classic-768x137.png 768w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Copilot-in-Outlook-Classic-1536x275.png 1536w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Copilot-in-Outlook-Classic-696x125.png 696w, https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Copilot-in-Outlook-Classic-1068x191.png 1068w" sizes="(max-width: 2034px) 100vw, 2034px" /></li> <li>Copilot won’t open if it’s added as an app to Outlook.</li> <li>Copilot will be grayed out in the Ribbon menu.</li> </ul> If you use Outlook on the web or New Outlook, you will still be able to access Copilot. For now, Microsoft recommends using Outlook on the web or the Microsoft 365 Copilot standalone app, but there are some workarounds you can try. <h2>How to bring back Copilot in Outlook Classic if it’s gone missing</h2> Microsoft found that Outlook is struggling to load Copilot-related settings because it’s unable to locate the MAPI property PR_PROFILE_USER_SMTP_EMAIL_ADDRESS_W, and it’s due to a bug affecting the profile section That means Copilot itself still exists in Outlook, but it’s unable to load, and when it doesn’t load, you won’t see AI-related features in the email client. Or you can also try creating a new profile, purging the Outlook cache, and deleting the local configuration. Microsoft also suggests restarting Windows, which should always be the first thing to do, and rebooting Outlook if the issue persists. “If the issue persists, continue to use Copilot through other supported Microsoft 365 applications where available while the investigation is ongoing,” the company added. The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/15/microsoft-confirms-it-accidentally-disabled-copilot-in-outlook-classic-and-we-wish-it-wasnt-a-mistake/">Microsoft confirms it accidentally disabled Copilot in Outlook Classic, and we wish it wasn’t a mistake</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.windowslatest.com">Windows Latest</a> https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/15/microsoft-confirms-it-accidentally-disabled-copilot-in-outlook-classic-and-we-wish-it-wasnt-a-mistake/feed/ 0

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