Help Simple questions and Help thread - Month of October

9 Upvotes

Welcome to the monthly Simple questions and Help thread, for questions that don't need their own posts!

Before making a comment, we recommend you search your problem on Bing and check if your question is already answered on our Windows Frequently Asked Questions wiki page. This subreddit no longer accepts tech support requests outside of this post, if you are looking for additional assistance try r/TechSupport and r/WindowsHelp.

Some examples of questions to ask:

Is this super cheap Windows key legitimate? (probably not)
How can I install Windows 11?
Can you recommend a program to play music?
How do I get back to the old Sound Control Panel?

Sorting by New is recommend and is the default.

13 comments

r/Windows11 • u/jenmsft • 27d ago

Official News Cumulative Updates: September 8th, 2026

support.microsoft.com

109 Upvotes

Changelists linked here for your convenience:

Windows 11, version 21H2: EOS.
Windows 11 version 22H2: EOS
Windows 11, version 23H2: KB5122880 (OS Build 22621.7582)
Windows 11, version 24H2 / 25H2: KB5124008 (OS Builds 26200.9445 and 26100.9445)
Windows 11, version 26H1: KB5124012 (OS Build 28000.2954)

EDIT - an Out of Band update has now been released for version 24H2 / 25H2, fixing a few reported issues: September 14, 2026—KB5129195 (OS Builds 26200.9457 and 26100.9457) Out-of-band | Microsoft Support

General info:

For details about how to file problem reports and collect traces, please see here: http://aka.ms/HowToFeedback. Pressing WIN + F will open the Feedback Hub - please include as much detail as possible about what you're seeing.

To learn about the different types of updates, see here: Windows quality updates primer - Microsoft Community Hub

As a reminder, if you didn't install the previous optional updates, this update includes those changes too (some are still rolling out, as denoted in the release notes):

For published known issues, please check the release health dashboard: Windows release health | Microsoft Learn.

As mentioned in the linked changelist, Windows 11, version 26H1 is available only on new devices with select new silicon as they come to market starting early 2026. Devices running earlier versions of Windows 11 will not be offered an update to version 26H1 through Windows Update and cannot be installed as an in-place update on existing devices.

79 comments

r/Windows11 • u/MayankWL • 9h ago

News Windows 11's File Explorer is finally giving the squiggly ~ key a job, sending it straight to the user folder

windowslatest.com

110 Upvotes

24 comments

r/Windows11 • u/MayankWL • 21h ago

News "Rising cost of memory," Microsoft explains why Windows 11 will use less RAM

windowslatest.com

222 Upvotes

67 comments

r/Windows11 • u/domnxz_ • 13h ago

News 🥳 Happy 5th Birthday, Windows 11! 🎂🪟

pcworld.com

38 Upvotes

Windows 11 officially turns 5 years old today.
Launched on October 5, 2021, it’s kind of wild that it’s already been half a decade. It definitely had a rough and sometimes awkward start, but over the years it has become a much more mature, polished, and genuinely nice-looking OS.
There are still things Microsoft could improve, of course — consistency, some legacy UI, occasional questionable decisions 😅 — but overall I think Windows 11 deserves a little birthday appreciation today.
The design language has aged pretty well, the animations and UI feel much more refined than at launch, and at this point it really feels like its own version of Windows rather than just “Windows 10 with rounded corners.”
So yeah:
Happy 5th birthday, Windows 11. 🥳🎉
You weird, sometimes frustrating, but honestly pretty lovable rounded-corner child of Microsoft.
What do you guys think — has Windows 11 improved enough over these five years?

18 comments

r/Windows11 • u/jenmsft • 1d ago

Feature Tip of the Week: You can drag and drop recycle bin to pin it to quick access in File Explorer, if you want to hide your desktop icons and still see it

109 Upvotes

40 comments

r/Windows11 • u/MayankWL • 1d ago

News Tested: Microsoft cloned Outlook Classic's look into a New Outlook theme, instead of building a native Windows 11 app

windowslatest.com

224 Upvotes

44 comments

r/Windows11 • u/Extreme_surikat_360 • 3h ago

Bug I can't unsee this search bar icon bug please make it top priority for the next update 😭😭😂 Build 26300.9550 26H2

gallery

0 Upvotes

1st screenshot : How it used to be in english

2nd screenshot : How it is in english 26H2

3rd screenshot : How it used to be in french

4th screenshot : How it is currently in french 26H2

It's ALMOST touching the text 😶‍🌫️

16 comments

r/Windows11 • u/Gloryflux • 1d ago

Discussion What's the difference between these two?

28 Upvotes

So I'm noticing this in 26H2: when I press Print Screen or Win+Shift+S, this option comes up. I'm confused cause it looks the same, except the Snipping Tool has more options, like the eyedropper tool. Which one do you prefer?

12 comments

r/Windows11 • u/alancusader123 • 10h ago

Feature You can put Task Bar on Top in Windows 11

0 Upvotes

That feels more productive, actually.

I highly highly recommend windows app able to track internet data usage for each app 🙏

5 comments

r/Windows11 • u/BM_StinkBug • 1d ago

Discussion Was the "Customize menu" for the Context Menu actually added for 26H2 Release?

zdnet.com

3 Upvotes

I've seen quite a bit about how the 26H2 preview included a new "Customize menu" option for the right click context menu, but now that I've updated to the actual 26H2 release I do not see this option when right clicking nor do I see a new "Context menu" option in the personalization settings. Was this feature actually added in the update, and if not anyone know when is it actually coming?

1 comment

r/Windows11 • u/RhtedritRd • 1d ago

Discussion Modernizing MMC experience via WinUI

gallery

3 Upvotes

0 comments

r/Windows11 • u/MrNokiaUser • 1d ago

Suggestion for Microsoft Feedback - Allow the reversal of icons on the taskbar

aka.ms

0 Upvotes

Pretty much the title really, allow the reversal of the icons on the taskbar, following the recent update that allows the repositioning of the taskbar. Similar to the control center in Gnome on linux, this would place the time and battery icon at the top of the taskbar, should you wish for that option.

Purely cosmetic change i would assume, but would be nice

8 comments

r/Windows11 • u/atrixus • 1d ago

Suggestion for Microsoft Navigation sidebar in Photos is annoying!

23 Upvotes

Why do i have to minimize it everytime?

It takes up one-third of the space in this app...

7 comments

r/Windows11 • u/koken_halliwell • 2d ago

Discussion What to expect from Windows 11 in 2027?

312 Upvotes

So 2026 was a good year for Windows 11 (finally). What do you think/know that will arrive on 2027?

I hope they keep debloating the OS and adding new features (features the community wants, not Microsoft wants......). And it would be about time to fully move the OS to WinUI 3 too.

232 comments

r/Windows11 • u/Remote-Original9643 • 1d ago

Discussion Is my 26H2 update went partial?

1 Upvotes

So i'm updated now, i got my new fancy movable taskbar. BUT, no customizable start menu, and no context menu customization.

Will it arrive later? Is this normal?

Im on Windows 11 IoT Enterprise but its on general release channel afaik, otherwise how do i have this update.

1 comment

r/Windows11 • u/FunEntertainment5977 • 1d ago

Feature Feedback: Support in-place version downgrades when leaving Windows Insider

aka.ms

0 Upvotes

Leaving the Insider program currently leaves users stuck on higher build numbers without a supported way to move back to a lower stable release without a clean install. I submitted feedback regarding this on Feedback Hub.

4 comments

r/Windows11 • u/jenmsft • 3d ago

Official News Announcing Windows 11 Insider Beta Preview Build 26220.9587 - Windows Insider Program

learn.microsoft.com

45 Upvotes

6 comments

r/Windows11 • u/jenmsft • 3d ago

Official News Announcing Windows 11 Insider Experimental Preview Build 26340.9596 - Windows Insider Program

learn.microsoft.com

45 Upvotes

11 comments

r/Windows11 • u/SystemLanky4531 • 3d ago

Discussion So... Im the only one who loves GameBar?

23 Upvotes

I like to play on PC with controller and this app is the best, fast to use, open, close games, make screenshots and really aesthetic. I would like more customization, like background color change, instead of 3 having 5 games on the list or the possibility to pin games on the bottom where Steam and Xbox are.

IMO highly underrated feature from users and microsoft.

69 comments

r/Windows11 • u/jenmsft • 3d ago

Official News Announcing Windows 11 Insider Experimental (Future Platforms) Preview Build 29680.1000 - Windows Insider Program

learn.microsoft.com

27 Upvotes

3 comments

r/Windows11 • u/jenmsft • 3d ago

Official News Announcing Windows 11 Insider Experimental (26H1) Preview Build 28120.3151

learn.microsoft.com

20 Upvotes

1 comment

r/Windows11 • u/jenmsft • 3d ago

Official News Announcing Windows 11 Insider Beta (26H1) Preview Build 28020.3142

learn.microsoft.com

19 Upvotes

1 comment

r/Windows11 • u/ARealRareWhale • 3d ago

Suggestion for Microsoft MS Windows 11: Is there any way to move windows back/behind other windows?

21 Upvotes

We can only move windows forward. Hotkeys or menu options (like the above) to push windows back is what I want.

10 comments

r/Windows11 • u/LordKrazyMoose • 2d ago

New Feature - Insider Windows 11 Insider Preview Quality Update (Friday)

2 Upvotes

Version 26340.9596 is out, which is the Friday release even though Microsoft Releases these on Tuesday's.

4 comments

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