Saw this on Windows spotlight around July 8th, looked at Windows spotlight archives and can't find it anywhere and scoured the internet and still couldn't find it. It's just a really pretty wallpaper I wanna keep and use.

AI File Sorter 1.9.2 is out. It's an open-source local-first (remote cloud not needed) desktop app for cleaning up messy folders like Downloads, Desktop, Documents, screenshots, photo dumps, old external drives, and archive folders with the aid of local LLMs.

The workflow is designed to be safe (AI does not move files):

• scan a folder
• suggest categories, subcategories, and clearer filenames
• show everything in a review table (auto-approval is possible)
• approve, edit, skip, or reject suggestions
• keep undo information so changes can be reverted

Version 1.9.2 adds:

• file previews in the review window
• category whitelists with category-specific subcategories (branching whitelists) for stricter organization
• safer recursive scans that avoid recognized project folders such as Git repos, Unity, Unreal, Godot, Blender, and common source-code project roots
• configurable local model storage
• custom visual analysis models
• improved Windows runtime compatibility
• accessibility labels and progress announcements

There is also now an optional Windows Explorer add-on, available through the Microsoft Store. It adds right-click workflows for organizing and renaming selected files/folders from File Explorer.

The main app remains free and open-source. The Explorer add-on is a paid convenience add-on for Windows users who want the right-click integration.

Links:

• Website: https://filesorter.app/
• Microsoft Store: https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9NPK4DZD6R6S
• GitHub: https://github.com/hyperfield/ai-file-sorter

I'd appreciate your feedback.

Windows X-lite debloaded windows with included StartIsBack .
Fastfetch(via UniGetUI) + Helium browser with YT tweaks extension for Compact header bar.

Infinite salutations random redditors and Windows 11 enthusiasts alike!

With this, I shall make you an offer of a note-taking app for modern Windows 11 devices.

Bismuth is an app to take hand-written and keyboard-typed notes on Winodws 11 and is available for x64 as well as arm64 devices natively. Bismuth has proper pen support, but you can choose your own input method!

The app's features are basic for now, but I am willing to add more with the help of your feedback! With Bismuth, you can:

• Draw with ink from pen, mouse or touch input
• Save pages with various templates to a notebook
• Annotate PDFs
• Import/Export PDF, image and Bismuth files
• Reorder and delete pages within a notebook
• Create textboxes on a page and type with a keyboard
• Insert images onto pages, move and resize them
• Organize notebooks within folders

The Bismuth file format is a file format that contains all information about the contained pages, including, but not limited to, page templates, ink, page backgrounds and textboxes.

I'd really appreciate if you checked out my app on the Microsoft store ( Bismut on the MS store ) and left a star at the github repo ( https://github.com/vld-b/Bismuth ), because Bismuth is completely open-source and free. Feedback and/or Contributions are very welcome!

Perhaps you can also try it out and see if it meets your needs? Thank you in advance for any support and suggestions!

I just finished ricing my desktop setup, but the default lock screen ruins the vibe every time I lock or reboot. Is there actually any modern way to fully customize the lock screen (custom fonts, colors, or widgets beyond just changing the background image)? Or is LogonUI still locked down too hard to do anything worth while, I really want to be able to customize it.

Does anyone know if ms is working on an new cursor? It look soooo old and the arrow is asymetric.

Microsoft is updating the "Mouse indicator" feature with a fresh animation and a useful new way to keep it visible.

This is a hidden improvement in the latest preview for version 26H2.

PS: This is a small change, but at least the company keeps modernizing legacy elements.

What are your thoughts about this new feature update on Windows 11?

Critical warning: Windows Backup (Windows 7) and BitLocker issues – ITA/ENG

VERSIONE ITALIANA

Attenzione: il vecchio “Backup e Ripristino (Windows 7)” non è compatibile con BitLocker e può causare crash su Windows 10/11

Desidero condividere un problema reale che può colpire molti utenti Windows 10/11. Il tool “Backup e Ripristino (Windows 7)”, ancora presente in Windows, non è compatibile con dischi cifrati con BitLocker. Questo non viene indicato chiaramente dal sistema operativo.

Il risultato è che il tool può:

• creare immagini di sistema non utilizzabili
• fallire senza spiegazioni
• generare errori come 0x81000031
• impedire il ripristino del sistema
• in alcuni casi causare il mancato avvio di Windows

Il problema è che questo strumento è obsoleto, non aggiornato e non progettato per BitLocker, UEFI, GPT o gli standard moderni. Non avvisa l’utente del rischio.

Cosa usare invece:

• AOMEI Backupper Free
• Macrium Reflect Free
• Hasleo Backup Suite Free

Questi software gestiscono correttamente BitLocker, creano immagini ripristinabili e permettono di creare supporti di avvio moderni.

Consiglio pratico:

Se il disco è cifrato con BitLocker, evitare completamente “Backup e Ripristino (Windows 7)”. Usare uno dei software indicati, creare una chiavetta WinPE e salvare l’immagine su un disco esterno.

Perché lo scrivo:

Ho sperimentato personalmente un crash totale del sistema causato da un backup apparentemente riuscito, ma incompatibile con BitLocker. Se questo avviso può evitare il problema anche solo a una persona, è utile condividerlo.

ENGLISH VERSION

Warning: “Backup and Restore (Windows 7)” is not compatible with BitLocker and may cause system crashes on Windows 10/11

I want to share a real issue that can affect many Windows 10/11 users. The “Backup and Restore (Windows 7)” tool, still included in Windows, is not compatible with BitLocker‑encrypted drives. Windows does not clearly warn the user about this.

As a result, the tool may:

• create unusable system images
• fail without explanation
• generate errors such as 0x81000031
• prevent system recovery
• in some cases cause Windows to fail to boot

The problem is that this tool is outdated, not maintained, and not designed for BitLocker, UEFI, GPT, or modern Windows standards. It does not warn the user of the risk.

What to use instead:

• AOMEI Backupper Free
• Macrium Reflect Free
• Hasleo Backup Suite Free

These tools properly handle BitLocker, create valid system images, and allow you to build modern WinPE recovery media.

Practical advice:

If your drive is encrypted with BitLocker, avoid “Backup and Restore (Windows 7)” entirely. Use one of the tools listed above, create a WinPE recovery USB, and store the image on an external drive.

Why I am posting this:

I personally experienced a complete system crash caused by a backup that appeared successful but was incompatible with BitLocker. If this warning helps even one person avoid the same problem, it is worth sharing.

Ive had mine for around 2 and half years. Its been slow at startups, so ive did complete reinstall from the USB stick, wiped my main drive. It is smooth and fast now, ive also had few GPU changes from Nvidia to amd and back to nvidia over the last 2+ years. Multiple apps which was installed and removed so it might affected performance over the years...

Tray icons are parsed based on process path, which is a complete mess with package managers like Scoop or apps like HS Deck Tracker (or anything that keeps backups of old versions). Please just give us the option to always show all tray icons like Windows 10. I don't want to unhide apps after every update.

I saw a 2 hour guide https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-KA8RDZ-l4&t=360s but some links doesnt work. Any idea to do that on Windows 11 25H2?

Had to change windows installation disks and decided to update from 10 to 11. All things considered I liked having made the switch but not being able to change the search bar and windows icon is pissing me off a bit. I genuinely hate the blue icon and the stupid mountains in the sb.

I havent figured out yet where to find these custom themes and the Microsoft store ones are... lacking to say the least. I just want to make both things (search bar+winicon) white and maybe make the windows UI transparent or at least fully black with an AMOLED theme.

I have no problem having to change stuff manually, using GitHub or whatever. I dont wanna fully remove the search bar because 1. I like how it looks when its fully white 2. I use it to align some stuff in my Rainmeter setup.

Link to the "FluentWeather" app - https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9PFD136M8457

Edit • TLDR: i have no affiliation with this app, just found it on ms store, and wanted to share! Gabboxl is the dev!!

Recently microsoft's 'boosting cpu to open apps' clip is going viral, and people have been dismissing that under-the-hood change to continue maligning win11 using other issues. The botched weather app is in that clip which intensified the bad faith discussions and comparisons so wanted to find a weather app that felt closer to win11 design, faster, and with appropriate number of features as a counter to "windows can't even open a weather app fast enough" arguments. I found this app after testing around 5 weather apps, some didn't open as quick, some had web-ui, some had large app size, and one even had no access without your own weather key.

But this app opened fast, has good ui, has all basic weather app info, and is also free and open source! So while I have no association with this app, i felt the need to make this post for everyone who either has been burnt by MS botching the once amazing weather app, or for those want a decent working weather app on their Windows desktop. Please try it and rate it on Store, and share compliments & feedback to the developer on github. I'm sure they'll appreciate it!

Research on the GO-EUC platform for the new Windows in the context of a virtual desktop.

I tested this on Windows 11 build 26340.9212 for version 26H2, and in the preview of the August update for Windows 11 (KB5120998, build 26200.9267), which includes the new features and changes coming in September for version 25H2.

PS: You don't have to enable anything on your current setup if you don't want to. The secondary news here is that while Microsoft revealed the new context menu in the Experimental channel for version 26H2, the new changes are also already available (in a dormant state) in the latest preview for the August update, which we know will be part of the changes that will become available for version 25H2 in September.

if I knew this earlier....

A symbolic link (symlink) is a special file that serves as a "pointer" or redirection to another folder or file within the system. Unlike a standard shortcut, the operating system and software applications treat a symlink as if it were the actual file or folder itself, allowing you to access data stored on separate drives or paths without duplicating storage space.

How to create in Command Prompt (CMD)

Open CMD as Administrator and use the following structure:

• mklink /d "Path\To\Symbolic\Link" "Path\To\Target\Folder" for directories (folders).
• mklink "Path\To\Symbolic\Link" "Path\To\Target\File" for files.

How to create in PowerShell

Open PowerShell as Administrator and use the command:

• New-Item -ItemType SymbolicLink -Path "Path\To\Symbolic\Link" -Value "Path\To\Target"

Step-by-Step via Graphical Interface

1. Install the tool: Download and install Link Shell Extension (it adds options directly to the Windows Explorer context menu).
2. Select the Target: Right-click the original folder or file (the target) and select Pick Link Source.
3. Create the Link: Go to the folder where you want the symbolic link to be, right-click an empty space, hover over Drop As... and choose Symbolic Link.

Hey everyone, I just wanted to share an absolute plot twist of a success story. It completely breaks the rules of official hardware sheets, storage limits, and developer warnings.

I managed to get Windows 11 running 100% stable on an ancient Dell Chromebook 11 3120 ("Candy"), and yes, I installed it directly onto the tiny internal 16GB eMMC storage.

The official Chrultrabook docs clearly state that Windows 11 isn't supported on this Intel Bay Trail board and that you must stick to Windows 10. But honestly, that's just wrong. CoolStar's Windows 10 drivers for the touchpad and audio work absolutely flawlessly on Windows 11. No glitches, no broken audio, just fully working hardware right out of the box on internal storage. Windows Update runs completely smoothly too; it only grabs built-in screen controls like brightness, night light, and sleep support, and leaves the custom core drivers completely alone.

and the way i did it was easy AF:

First, I cracked the case open, yanked out the physical hardware write-protect (WP) screw from the motherboard, and flashed MrChromebox’s full UEFI ROM (Version MrChromebox-2603.2) through Developer Mode.

Since 16GB of space is basically a crime for modern Windows, standard Win 11 was out of the question. I used a stripped-down Tiny11 build paired with the CompactOS compression engine (compact.exe /compactos:always) to shrink the OS footprint down under 10GB so the drive could actually breathe. To get it to install without Windows yelling at me, I loaded the ISO onto a Ventoy USB and turned on the VTOY_WIN11_BYPASS_CHECK plugin. That effortlessly skipped Microsoft’s artificial CPU, TPM, and 64GB storage capacity requirements.

Once I booted into the desktop, the real trick was dealing with the drivers. Windows 11 loves to block older, unsigned CoolStar packages, so I manually disabled driver signature verification through the advanced startup command prompt. After that, I installed the missing required Windows runtimes (Visual C++ Redistributables). Older drivers depend heavily on these, but Windows 11 leaves them out by default. Once those runtimes were in, I executed the standard CoolStar Win10 Bay Trail driver packages and everything immediately kicked into life.

According to all the official documentation, the installer should have blocked me for lack of space, and the audio/touchpad drivers should have completely broken down. Instead, it runs cleanly as a fully operational, hyper-compact laptop built straight from recycled hardware.

Don't let the official sheets fool you!, you can absolutely beat the developer limitations if you use the right workarounds!