When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. Microsoft 365 Apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint will stop getting new features on Windows 10 as early as this month. Microsoft is stepping up the pressure on Windows 10 users by winding down support for Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows 10, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. After August 2026, Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows 10 will no longer receive new features, and only receive security updates for customers with an active Office subscription. Devices running Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows 10 will receive feature updates and Copilot support (where eligible) until Version 2608 is released.

PCWorld reports that Microsoft's Windows 10 patch KB5120249 focuses on security rather than new features, addressing outdated Secure Boot certificates and fixing critical vulnerabilities in versions 22H2 and 21H2. The roughly 1GB update also resolves File History errors, improves Microsoft Defender, and includes fixes for the Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool. Since standard Windows 10 support ended in October 2025, users must enroll in the ESU program to receive continued protection through 2027. Earlier this week, Microsoft released KB5120249, a critical security update for Windows 10 versions 22H2 and 21H2, as well as Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 and Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021. This is the next entry in Windows 10's Extended Security Updates program, so don't expect any new features. Rather, this patch includes fixes for various security vulnerabilities still present in Windows 10.

I wore the world's first HDR10 smart glasses TCL's new E Ink tablet beats the Remarkable and Kindle Anker's new charger is one of the most unique I've ever seen I wore the world's first HDR10 smart glasses TCL's new E Ink tablet beats the Remarkable and Kindle Anker's new charger is one of the most unique I've ever seen A developer got Word 1.1a from 1990 to run on Windows 11 - try it yourself One developer managed to coax Word 1.1a to run on today's Windows. A developer ran a 35-year-old version of Word in today's Windows. The developer rebuilt the original sources and used modern replacements. Anyone can replicate this, but you'll need the right programming tools. I remember using Microsoft Word for Windows in the early 90s.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. Microsoft silently deleted its'ideal' 32GB RAM advice for Windows 11 As RAM prices soar, Microsoft deleted Windows 11 support pages recommending 32GB of RAM--even though it still runs best with that much. Microsoft has silently removed all references to a support page that recommended lots of RAM for Windows 11. The now-deleted page stated that Windows 11 should ideally run with 32GB of RAM. The changes were first spotted by Windows Latest .

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. Windows 10's death sure doesn't feel like a PC apocalypse When Windows 7 died, it was a disaster. Is Windows 10's death this week important? But I might be a minority. For many folks, the hullabaloo this week about Windows 10's demise feels overblown--after all, as Brad pointed out a couple of weeks ago, Microsoft is offering different ways to extend security updates .

We're now two months from the planned end of support date for Windows 10, and it seems tempers are running high as tensions continue to build. A man from Southern California filed a lawsuit against Microsoft last week, according to one news report. Not enough people are currently using Windows 11, therefore it isn't right to end support for Windows 10 at this time. Furthermore, by forcing users to give up Windows 10, Microsoft is strong-arming customers into buying new devices and attempting to "monopolize the generative AI market." The plaintiff, Lawrence Klein, owns two Windows 10 laptops and is personally affected by end of support for the operating system.

Minecraft's ray tracing feature for Windows 10 has made its way out of beta eight months after the feature first became available for testers. The addition of ray tracing support for NVIDIA's RTX graphics cards transforms the sandbox game's aesthetics into one that's, well, shinier. As we said in our hands-on post earlier this year, the realistic lighting, reflections and shadows the feature brings make Minecraft feel more immersive. Yes, the game is still as blocky as ever, but the in-game sunlight looks so real, for instance, and shadows and reflections could make you feel as if you're inside the virtual world. To be able to experience what ray tracing adds to the game, you'll need to run it on a PC with one of NVIDIA's GPUs that's capable of ray tracing.

One of Windows 10's biggest annoyances is the aggressive way it pushes out updates. The operating system has a nasty habit of installing new updates while you're in the middle of using your PC, which can slow down your computer and cascade into forced, random reboots in the middle of the day--woe unto whatever you were working on. Microsoft responded to complaints by adding optional Snooze and Active Hours features that help users delay Windows Updates for more convenient times, but it's still an issue. The next big Windows 10 release could--could--cure the headaches by using machine learning to predict when to update your PC. Microsoft announced Preview Builds 17723 and 18204 for Windows 10 Insiders late Wednesday.

Most how-to articles on a given subject walk you through a series of steps, perhaps with a video attached. Windows 10's new free help feature, Cortana Show Me, is different: It actually performs basic Windows tasks for you on your PC while you follow along. Even better, Cortana Show Me strikes a nice balance between showing you what to do, actually performing those steps, and providing an "escape hatch" if you need to slow down. All you need to do is wiggle your mouse, and Cortana Show Me will stop. Microsoft's free app is part of the Windows 10 April 2018 Update, and includes walkthroughs for many basic tasks--we have a full list below.

Amazon and Microsoft announced a surprising partnership last fall, allowing the digital assistants for the two companies--Alexa and Cortana, respectively--to work together. Microsoft's partnership with Alexa failed to appear by the end of 2017 as promised, however. During its Build conference keynote, Microsoft revealed that the collaboration is moving ahead, but it still remains in a limited beta. Megan Saunders, the general manager for Microsoft Cortana, appeared on stage with Tom Taylor, the senior vice president for Amazon's Alexa, to demonstrate how the two devices will interact. Put simply, Cortana will run on Alexa devices, while you'll be to call Alexa from within Windows 10's Cortana.