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Turning files to slides in PowerPoint just got easier
(Image credit: Shutterstock)
Microsoft Copilotis gearing up for afew big changes, and one of them is giving PowerPoint an upgrade with a new way to create slides — all from a file or document.
In ablog post, Microsoft revealed it’s giving Copilot an update in PowerPoint to create slides based on a file or prompt. This means a fully designed slide can automatically be generated by using a document, whether it be from Word or other formats.
Copilot in PowerPoint can turn a file into a slide with content based on a prompt given, too. As an example, you can note, “add a slide about key takeaways from [document attached]” to make an individual slide based on your reference.
It’s been a pain to convert any type of file into a PowerPoint presentation, but Microsoft Copilot has been making iteasier to add images and more. While there was a way to create slides via the Copilot chatbot, now it can directly be used on the canvas.
For now, the feature is available to Microsoft 365 Insiders, with it rolling out to more users soon, and PowerPoint for Windows users with a Copilot license.
There are a few known issues, including Copilot not being able to support “specific slide formatting like font, colors, background, and images,” but further updates are sure to come down the line.
In a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation, there should now be a Copilot icon above a slide.Click thisto see a dropdown menu, and you canselect “Add a slide.”
However, there is also a “New Slide with Copilot” option in the Home tab that can be selected, too.
From here, you can attach a file or document byselecting“Reference a file.”Copilot will then refer to this file to create the slide, and you can also write a prompt for Copilot to base the new slide around.
Click the “send” arrowfor Copilot to generate a slide draft, where you can edit text and make changes as you see fit.
There you have it. Microsoft offers a few tips when using it, such as making sure to direct Copilot to a specific section or topic within the file, especially if it’s large, and keeping prompts precise and snappy — like 1-2 key points.
We’ve heard aboutMicrosoft 365’s price hikes due to Copilot, and we’re now seeing these AI tools in action in PowerPoint. It’s worth noting that this feature isn’t currently available in the web version of PowerPoint, however, you can still find outhow to use Microsoft Copilot AIvia the chatbot.
AI brands continue to promise more uniform and human-like experiences for their products, and Microsoft is no different. The brand is working to make the features of its AI assistant more cohesive with the everyday world. This includes a more authentic Spanish language voice for its Copilot product. The company rolled out its Copilot Voice feature last October, which it will soon update with native Spanish speaking-voices to cater to the Latino community in the U.S. and globally.
Enter Elm and Alder, Copilot’s native Spanish voices. The AI can detect when Spanish is being spoken and respond seamlessly in fluent Spanish with a native accent. Similarly, it expresses a native accent while speaking English in the Spanish setting. I spoke with a Microsoft product expert to explore the process behind developing the new voices and the intent behind providing this unique language and cultural representation within Microsoft’s AI suite.
“In the U.S. market, you have all of these varied and diverse backgrounds and people that are your audience. In our research, we want to be representative with our communities,” says Microsoft AI Product Designer, Laura Parra Rangel. “We noticed that there was a bit of a gap for the Hispanic community in the U.S. There’s a huge Latinx community in the U.S. We have a huge community that can benefit from this.”
Copilot Voice has already received some positive reviews in its English version, withPCMag’sMichael Muchmore describing an early experience with the AI voice feature as “almost like talking with a friend.” He noted that it will still respond even amid normal speech patterns, such as stumbling with speech or interrupting the AI. Copilot will continue to fulfill its query.
Such a feature would surely be beneficial when implemented into additional languages in a native fashion. Particularly, for a demographic that is collectively the second-largest ethnic group in the U.S. According to Census.gov,over 65 million peopleidentified their ethnicity as Hispanic or Latino in 2023.
“For me, the voice experiences are amazing. Now that we have Spanish options, it’s just a game changer for me– an actual decent Spanish option to have these experiences. Something that can change and switch between English and Spanish, just like I do in my regular life,” Parra Rangel says.
“I’m talking about something in English and then something came to my mind in Spanish, and I’m constantly switching between one and the other, and I’m sure this is true for many, many people across the world,” she added.
In conjunction with the coming Copilot native Spanish language rollout, Microsoft released a report surveying 504 U.S. Latina moms ages 25 to 40 on how they use AI in their everyday lives. The campaign, called“Abuela Approved AI”found that 56% of Latina moms consider AI as a part of their close family support team; 60% of moms include AI in their daily tasks, including entertainment, personal growth, work or business, and language translation; 70% of moms note that they use AI for 24/7 access to support over advice from others, while 51% indicate they consider AI to be a source they can access for non-judgmental support. Finally, 87% of Latina moms referenced AI for cultural enrichment and preservation, including hobbies, family recipes, and native language, with AI being a bridge for learning old concepts and new ones.
Some practical examples Latina mothers gave for how Copilot Voice has benefitted them in their daily lives include using the mobile app to scan available ingredients in their homes to create a recipe that aligns with their culture. They also detailed using prompts in Spanish to create unique, first-person, native language, bedtime stories to promote bilingualism and multiculturalism in their children.
“I speak Spanish fluently, it’s my first language. English is my second language, but I totally see people being first generation in the U.S. being like– I want to speak Spanish. I want to preserve my culture. And having Copilot helps them preserve their culture,” she says.
“It’s great to have a true Hispanic voice in the market that I can speak to and that sounds [familiar]. With an Argentinian accent or with a Dominican Republic accent, that’s amazing,” she added.
Copilot Voice first launched using OpenAI’sGPT-4oAI model. Other services such asMicrosoft’s Think Deeperalso includeCopilot Voiceand use more powerful models, such asGPT o1. Notably, a feature like Think Deeper is primarily web-based; however, users can access other Copilot Voice setups viaMicrosoft Windowsand macOS desktops, and iOS andAndroidmobile interfaces.
Parra Rangel noted that working with theMicrosoft AIteam changed her perspective on how voice features could be presented. Having previously associated voice strictly with mobile, observing the development of Copilot Voice allowed her to see how a voice feature can also be compatible with a desktop experience.
“Of course, you always have the option to use voice in desktop. As a product designer, I used to see that as only mobile, but now with this, it’s a game-changer. How we experiment with voice on all platforms, whether it’s computer or mobile. This is just the tip of the iceberg,” she says.
I asked Microsoft whether there would be any model updates for the Copilot native Spanish feature and await an answer. I also asked the company whether it has plans to release native versions of other languages to Copilot Voice, and it said it will follow up with an answer.
While tech brands are promoting the highlights of new features, the product manager acknowledged users’ potential concerns about trusting AI, including privacy, security, and other notable errors or glitches. She noted that some people might resist using Copilot due to the stigma of using AI decreasing intelligence, or feeling like AI might take away their ability to think or create originally. Parra Rangel said users can think of Copilot as someone to bounce ideas with or to ask a quick question, not to generate content fully.
“Something that Copilot has is that it is aimed for all age groups. It’s unlike a more niche social media that’s aimed for maybe Gen Z, or only Millennials. I feel that Copilot is super inclusive in that sense. No matter your age, you can always benefit from Copilot,” she says.
Giving an example of a personal way she uses Copilot, Parra Rangel noted she takes advantage of the seamless language settings to create an in-app language learning tool that she can use on the go. There is a speech rate setting that allows users to adjust how fast or slow the voice speaks. She said she will slow the voice for better understanding and use Copilot Voice as her personal coach in language training. Currently, Copilot supports 40 languages, and 14 are considered very well supported.
Parra Rangel considers that the introduction of native Spanish voices has the potential to promote language learning for Copilot users regardless of whether they are Hispanic.
“You can still benefit from having these truly, Spanish-speaking voices for learning new things, a new language, or if you want to improve your Spanish, or if you live in a diverse area where people speak Spanish or other languages. That’s a very nice way to get to learn your neighbor’s culture and language,” she says.
She added that the only way to dispel any hearsay about Copilot and its features is to give it a try.
Snipping Tool feature now in testing will sort you out in a jiffy
Windows 11 is powering up the Snipping Tool in testing right now
A new feature allows you to copy all the text from an image straight away
There’s no need to take a screenshot first, as was previously the case, so this is a neat time-saver
Microsoftis making it even easier forWindows 11users to be able to extract text from images (or any content) on the screen.
Windows 11 already has this OCR-powered (Optical Character Recognition) ability, as you may be aware, but at the moment, it’s necessary totake a screenshot first with the Snipping Toolbefore you can extract text from that image.
With a new update for the Snipping Tool that’s just been released (which was leaked previously), you don’t need to grab a screenshot to perform text extraction any longer – although bear in mind this is still in testing at this point (so may still be wonky).
AsNeowin reports, with previewversion 11.2503.27.0of the Snipping Tool, you can simply hit theWindows + Shift + Skeys together, and this will pop up the capture bar for the tool.
However, instead of having to create a snip (screenshot), the ‘text extractor’ option will be right there in the bar, so you can just click that, with no need to save a screen grab first.
Essentially, this is directly integrating the ability to extract text from images (or any screen content) into Windows 11, with no additional steps needed, mirroring the functionality present in Microsoft’sPowerToys suite of tools(for advanced Windows users) – and it’s definitely going to be appreciated by folks who use this capability.
It’s obviously less of a hassle than having to clear the hurdle of actually grabbing a screenshot, if all you’re interested in doing is copying all the text that’s currently visible on your monitor.
I sayallthe text, but that’s only what happens if you use the ‘Copy all text’ option provided. If you just want a specific portion of text, you can manually select and extract only those words (it’s also possible to remove line breaks if you want).
Microsoft is slowly expanding Windows 11’s OCR powers, and you may recall that late last year, thePhotos app got Optical Character Recognition built into pull text from images directly within the application.
The company recommends switching update channels as a band-aid solution.
(Image credit: Microsoft)
Microsofthasconfirmed a bugin Outlook Classic, where users are experiencing CPU usage spikes, as high as 50%, when simply typing in the application. Notably, reports of this incident can be traced back to November last year, and even now, users have been asked to switch to the Microsoft 365 Apps update channel as a temporary workaround.
After around six months since the first sighting, Microsoft is finally addressing an issue in Outlook (Classic), which led to increased CPU usage, visible slowdowns, and even freezes whenever you’d sit down to compose an email or type a message. Microsoft quotes a figure ranging from a 30-50% hit to the CPU utilization, and that’s sure to be noticeable, especially on aging hardware.
The developer team was able to reproduce this bug on updating to Microsoft 365 Apps Version 2406 Build 17726.20126+, which was released in June 2024, on the Current, Monthly Enterprise, and Insider Channels. As of writing, a concrete solution is not available, so users have been recommended to move to the Semi-Annual Channel release, where this issue has not been observed.
If you’re running an organization with several devices, Microsoft offers adetailed guidefor migrating your update channel with options like Group Policies, the Office Deployment Tool, Microsoft Configuration Manager, and Intune, just to name a few. For home users, a simpler way to achieve the same result is by just tweaking the registry as follows:
Open a Command Prompt (CMD) window with admin privileges.
Paste the following command and hit Enter: “reg add HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\office\16.0\common\officeupdate /v updatebranch /t REG_SZ /d SemiAnnual”
In Outlook, navigate to File > Office Account > Update Options and select “Update Now” to switch to the Semi Annual Channel.
Affected userswent through several troubleshooting hoops, like turning off graphics acceleration, disabling the spell-check utility, along with add-ins, but to no avail. It got so bad that a user with a beefy i9-14900HX reported CPU temperatures breaching 95 degrees Celsius just by having the ‘New Message’ window open, which is used to compose emails.
As the problem is still under investigation by the Outlook team, this is no more than a stopgap solution. The nature of this bug seems to be tied to how the software handles text fields, but it’s quite puzzling how such an obvious issue slipped past the developers in the first place.
Become a Windows 11 power user with these simple tips
Whether you’re a lifelong PC user or you just got your firstWindows 11 laptop, there are a few things you can do to make it a little more capable, comfortable and easy to use.
I know because I’ve been using the latest version of Windows since it was in beta, and when I wrote myWindows 11 reviewI was a little underwhelmed by how the finished product failed to live up to Microsoft’s hype.
But it was still a decent operating system when it launched in 2021, and in the years since the company has put in work to shore up its deficiencies and make it (generally) better and easier to use.
That said, there are still a lot of recommendations I make when helping a friend or family member get acquainted with Windows 11 for the first time. And withWindows 10 reaching its end of lifein 2025, I think there are going to be lot of people getting to grips with Windows 11 for the first time this year.
That’s why I collected my top 15 Windows 11 tips together in one place. These tips can help you be happier, more comfortable and more productive, making your time on even thebest Windows laptopsand desktops that much better.
Launches whatever is pinned to your taskbar in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd…etc. position
Windows 11 has a massivelist of keyboard shortcutsyou can use to instantly launch apps, commit actions and generally get things done a lot faster than if you used the mouse.
You don’t need to learn all of them (and trust me, you don’t want to) but there are at least a few dozen that I find super useful for helping me get things done as efficiently as possible.
There are one or two very specific keyboard shortcuts farther down in this list, but I wanted to take a moment to list my favorite and most-used keyboard shortcuts in the chart above for easy reference.
Back in the early days of Windows Microsoft used to sell add-on packs that had a bunch of new features and tools for power users.
Those days are behind us now, thankfully, as all Windows updates and upgrades are free—including PowerToys, a bundle of extras that you can use to do some frankly incredible things in Windows 11.
You can download PowerToys from the Microsoft Store app (check out our guide tohow to get PowerToys in Windows 11for step-by-step guidance) and there are loads of cool tools to play with inside. One of my favorites is PowerToys Run (pictured above), a supercharged version of the Windows Run command that works a lot more like the Spotlight Search in macOS by allowing you to type in natural language.
Windows will then try to find what you’re looking for, whether that’s an app you want to run on your PC, a file hidden in a folder somewhere or a key website somewhere on the web.
There are lots of other PowerToys that replicate or improve upon features in competing operating systems too, like Mouse Without Borders, which lets you use one mouse across multiple PCs the same way you can use a single mouse across multiple Macs and iPads with Universal Control.
Or try Shortcut Guide, which makes it easy to quickly summon a customizable guide to keyboard shortcuts so you don’t have to keep referring to Microsoft’s (or my) lists of shortcuts.
Use Windows 11 Voice Access for extra productivity with no hand strain
Windows has had various forms of voice-to-text typing and voice controls for some time, but with Windows 11 Voice Access I think Microsoft has achieved a new level of utility that makes it worth using for everyone, not just folks who have a hard time typing.
Of course, Voice Access is even more valuable for those of us who have compromised hands and wrists or otherwise have a hard time using a traditional PC because it lets you do the lion’s share of your Windows work without using your hands.
Once you get comfortable using Voice Access you can not only talk to your PC to tell it what to type, you can tell it to launch or close programs, click buttons on websites, enter text and other data in website fields and generally get a lot done without touching the keyboard. It feels kind of futuristic, too, like you’re talking to one of the Esper supercomputers in Blade Runner.
Windows 11 Voice Access has been a game-changer for how I work, and it’s now built right into the latest versions of the operating system, so you should be able to find it by justhitting the Start button and typing “Voice Access”, then launching it from the search results.For more guidance and tips, check out our guide tohow to use Windows 11 Voice Access to tell your PC what to do.
Take advantage of Clipboard history
I don’t know about you, but I spend a lot of my workday copying and pasting text, images and files across various projects I’m working on within Windows 11.
That’s why I was so happy when I discovered the Clipboard history, which is exactly what it sounds like: a historical log of everything you’ve copied to the Windows clipboard recently.
You can access it by simply hitting theWindows key + Vkeyboard shortcut, at which point the little window will appear with a reverse chronological log of everything you’ve copied (you may have to hit the “Turn on” button first to turn it on).
Try it and you’ll see not only is the clipboard history in this little app, it also has tabs for pasting in emoji, GIFs, special characters and more.
Save power and money with Energy Saver
Windows laptops have had some sort of “battery saver” power mode that conserves power for at least a decade, but recently Microsoft built that feature up into a new “Energy Saver” power mode that you can use on both laptopsanddesktops.
The value is obvious if you’re on a laptop that’s running low on juice, because enabling Energy Saver mode lowers the rate at which your machine consumes battery power.
But the fact that you can now use it on Windows 11 desktop PCs means you can fine-tune your PC’s power draw to some extent, which can save you hundreds of dollars on your power bill in the course of a year. You can also dig into theSystem > Power > Energy recommendationssubsection of the Windows 11 Settings menu for more guidance on how to cut down on your power bill.
To enable or disable Energy Saver, just open your Quick Settings menu by clicking the system tray on your taskbar or hitting Windows key + A.
Get to grips with God Mode
If you don’t feel powerful enough in Windows 11 after downloading PowerToys, it’s time to try God Mode.
“God Mode” in Windows 11 is actually a semi-secret list of shortcuts that let you do a lot of things inside Windows without having to dig through menus. They’re very useful for creating shortcuts to do things like create a restore point for Windows, creating or deleting new user accounts, show hidden files and folders and more.
But it’s a little tricky to access God Mode, because you have to create a new folder on your Windows desktop and then rename it to a very specific weird string of characters:GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}
Once you do that a little control panel icon will appear on your desktop, and you can open it to see a list of dozens and dozens of shortcuts to key Windows features. It’s a tricky process, so make sure to consult our guide tohow to enable God Mode in Windowsif you have any questions!
Save your most-used files as Favorites in File Manager
This feature wasn’t in Windows 11 at launch, but less than a year inMicrosoft gave File Explorer a makeoverand added some useful new features that made it a lot more versatile.
One my faves, pardon the pun, is the ability toright-click any file and select Add to Favoritesin the context menu.
That will ensure that file appears in a special “Favorites” section of the File Manager Home screen every time you open the app. I use this for key work documents and regularly-used templates, but you can use it however makes sense for your workflow.
Try the Xbox Game Bar
If you play games on your Windows PC you should check out the Xbox Game Bar, a built-in feature that you can summon by hitting theWindows key + Gkeyboard shortcut.
Doing so brings up an overlay that has key widgets for PC gaming, including an audio control widget for controlling key details like volume levels, which mic and speakers you’re using and more.
There’s also a performance monitor, a screenshot widget, and even a full Widget storefront where you can download additional tools like aSpotifywidget, aRazerCortex widget and even widgets designed to help you in specific games like Valorant.
Microsoft has done a lot to improve this feature since it debuted, so give it a try next time you’re gaming.
Take advantage of Focus assist
I love using Windows 11’s Focus feature when I’m working and when I’m gaming because it puts the kibosh on annoying pop-ups and notifications for as long as you need.
To try it yourself, simplyopen the Focus settings menu within the Windows 11 Settings menu(the fastest way is to hit theStart buttonand typeFocus,then hitEnter) and use the tools therein to customize how long you want a Focus session to last when you start the timer.
Once you do start a Focus session, a timer will appear on-screen (though you can choose to hide it) and Windows’ built-in Do Not Disturb mode will switch on. This will hide things like notification badges on apps and stop apps flashing in the taskbar when they want your attention, but only for the duration of the Focus session.
You can customize which notifications appear and how in the Focus settings menu, which can make it a great resource for managing your attention.
Try out Dark Mode
If you want to take things to the next level, you can even customize your perfect Windows 11 color palette.
Now that so many of us are using monitors with sky-high brightness settings and HDR support, I truly feel that every app and website should offer a dark mode option.
Sadly that’s not yet the case, and even when an app or ‘site does have a dark mode it’s often a hassle to fiddle with the settings on each and every one.
That’s why I’m so grateful Windows 11 has a “dark mode” you can enable which will switch the appearance of Windows to a cooler, darker palette. Even better, it will do its best to automatically switch all apps which support it to dark mode, saving you some time and hassle.
To enable Dark Mode in Windows 11, navigate to Settings > Personalization > Colors and select “Dark” from the “Choose your mode” dropdown menu. You can also set up custom color palettes if you prefer.
Try out Phone Link to get texts on your PC
If you’ve been jealous of the way Macs and iPhones are so deeply integrated that owners of both can get texts right on their PC, it’s time for you to try out Phone Link.
For the last year or so the Phone Link app has been included by default in Windows 11, so you should be able tosummon it by just hitting the Start button and typing Phone, then clicking the Phone Link iconin the search results.
Once you launch it you can sync your iPhone or Android device to your PC and start sending and receiving text messages right from within Windows. Unfortunately, it’s pretty limited with iPhones, so you can only take full advantage of this feature if you’re using an Android device that’s running Android 8 or later.
But I’m still using an iPhone and I find even the basic utilities of Phone Link pretty handy to have, so I recommend you give it a shot.
Clear out annoying taskbar clutter
Trim down your Windows 11 taskbar in the Settings menu.
When I first started using Windows 11 I was so annoyed by what Microsoft did to the taskbar. I’m not talking about the centered Start menu, either; I got used to that pretty quickly, and after all you can move it back to the lefthand corner if you really want (just right-click the taskbar and selectTaskbar settings > Taskbar behaviorsand changeTaskbar alignmenttoLeft).
I like my Windows taskbar to work for me, so one of the first things I do on every new Windows PC I review is to get rid of all the default taskbar icons for apps like Copilot, Edge, the Microsoft Store and Task View.
Some of these, like the Microsoft Store shortcut, can be removed by simply right-clicking the icon on the taskbar and selectingUnpin from taskbarfrom the context menu.
Others take more work to dislodge. You can hide them from the taskbar by navigating toSettings > Personalization > Taskbarand opening theTaskbar itemssub-menu, where you’ll have the choice to disable the Microsoft Teams, Widgets, and Task view buttons.
Note that if you disable the Widgets button it will disappear from the taskbar, meaning you will no longer get live weather updates via it (if you have it configured that way) and you won’t be able to access your Widget menu by mousing over it.
Shake things up to stay focused
Windows 11 has a handy little feature that allows you to quickly minimize all windowsexceptthe one you’re focusing on by simply shaking it around a bit. The window, that is, not your PC—try not to shake that around at all if possible.
This is a fun way to quickly get rid of (without actually closing) everything except what you want to focus on. I’ve found it comes in real handy when working across multiple monitors.
To enable it, simply navigate toSettings > System > Multitaskingandswitch Title bar window shaketoOn.
Fine-tune volume with a spin of your scroll wheel
Hover your mouse over this icon, roll your scroll wheel back and forth and watch the volume percentage go up and down.
Here’s a fun little secret not many Windows 11 users know: you can quickly adjust your PC volume by moving your mouse over the speaker icon in your taskbar and rolling the scroll wheel on your mouse or trackball up and down.
I really love doing this because it saves me at least two clicks every time, and that adds up in the course of a month. But more importantly, it makes me feel both cool and smart to know how to use this little feature.
You can put folders and key settings right on the Start menu
See the little white icons in the lower-right corner of the Start Menu? Those are how these commonly-used folders appear when you enable them.
If you need faster access to key aspects of your PC like the Settings menu, the Downloads folder or your Network settings you can add them right to your Start menu with a few simple clicks.
To do so, navigate toSettings > Personalization > Start > Folders. In this sub-menu you’ll see a list of nine folders (from Downloads to Pictures) you can choose to put back on the Start menu. Note that they appear not with their usual icons alongside everything else, but rather as small white glyphs in the lower-right corner of the Start Menu.
You can do even deeper customization of your Start Menu if you back out of the Folders sub-menu. In the generalSettings > Personalization > Startsettings you’ll find even more options to change the way icons are spaced in the menu, whether or not your most recently-used apps and files appear, and more.
Microsoft’s Recallfeature has had a rocky start to its existence. Designed to capture screenshots of your actions onCopilot Plus PCto find later, it’s been delayed and pushed back since it was first announced.
However, Microsoft appears ready to try again, as the company is starting to preview the feature toWindows Insiders.
Microsoft described Recall in a recentblog post: “You work across so many apps, sites, and documents it can be hard to remember where you saw something you want to get back to. Recall saves you time by offering an entirely new way to search for things you’ve seen or done on your PC securely.”
Recall was initially meant to launch with the first batch of Copilot Plus PCslast June, but it was pushed back due to security concerns. In October, Microsoft planned to re-release it, but it pushed it back to give itself a chance to make “a secure and trusted experience.”
It seems the company is at least close to ready to create that secure experience, as rolling the feature out to those in the Windows Insider program is typically the last step before the company launches a feature to the masses.
Microsoft’s blog post also mentions that you must opt in if you want to have Windows save your screenshots and make them findable.
“You will need to opt-in to saving snapshots, which are images of your activity, and enrol in Windows Hello to confirm your presence so only you can access your snapshots,” reads the company’s blog.
Having Recall on PCs as an opt-in feature instead of on by default is a smart move from Microsoft, as it’ll allow those more security-conscious users to ignore the feature and keep using their Copilot Plus PC without any changes.
Microsoft didn’t say how long the feature would be in testing before launching it to all Copilot Plus PC users. Based on the issues with the initial launch, I assume it’ll keep it in testing for a while to ensure everything is ready for prime time.
You’d be hard-pressed to find someone whoisn’tdispleased withWindows11 in some shape or form, but Microsoft is developing a newWindows 11Start menu that’s bound to make a lot of people happy.
Bluesky userphantomofearth, who dives into Windows Insider builds, discovered the new Start menu in a recent build. The menu offers a larger, more streamlined look that finally displays all of your apps in one place. More importantly, you can finally axe the Recommended feed.
The new Windows 11 Start menu
PreviousWindows 10users have been asking for this back forever now, which makes sense why people are so excited. Going a step backward is obviously a step forward for Windows, which surprises (let me check) no one.
To be clear, I am still using Windows 10 for my gaming PC for these exact issues… and also Microsoft put aridiculous hardware requirementon Windows 11. (At least I get to experience the silliness on each laptop I review.)
Again, I love that I don’t need to go through two different menus just to see my appsandthat I don’t need to see the (generally) useless Recommended section anymore. However, a list of all the apps in alphabetical order isn’t exactly clean, either. It just makes it more accessible.
Getting the apps front and center is nice and all, but I’m more excited about the overall customization.
With the new UI, you can easily switch between seeing “All” apps alphabetically, all apps in a Name Grid, and then in Categories. This isn’t anything new, but the Category setting previously felt useless because I’d have to click into the Start menu, click All, then click on the category with the app I want, and finally click the app.
However, now with Categories, you’d get an instant, clean look at all my apps in the Start menu on one page with little-to-no scrolling. This isn’t revolutionary by any means, but Microsoft makes Windows hard to love. Heck, that’s why some folksditched Windows 11 for Linux.
But if the Categories aren’t your style, you can now pin more apps, up to 8 per row. And you’re not stuck with 3 rows anymore, you can technically customize all the apps you see on your Start menu by doing this. So, folks who are very particular will have a field day customizing their Start menu.
If all you care about is ditching the Recommended section, however, you can disable it in the Personalization section in the Settings. Or at least whenever this update becomes available.
Technically, this feature was found in both the 23H2 and 24H2 versions of Windows 11. All that means is that we’ll likely see these new features soon, ideally in the coming weeks.
It’s ready to watch what you do and act on your behalf
(Image credit: Microsoft)
Microsoft has upgraded Copilot to make the AI assistant a proactive AI companion
Announced as part of Microsoft’s 50th Anniversary Copilot Event, these new features will start rolling out today
Features include chatbot memory, a research tool, and on-screen awareness to name just a few
MicrosoftCopilot is taking the leap, transforming from a mere generative AIchatbotto a full-blown AI companion. At least, that’s what Microsoft is promising in one of the most significant Copilot updates to date.
The changes, which add a wide array of new capabilities and enhance some existing ones, were announced on Friday, April 4, as part of Microsoft’sCopilot/50th Anniversary celebration.
Granted, many of these features will be familiar to those runningGoogle’sGeminiand OpenAI’sChatGPT.In fact, there’s a solid chance that some of these enhancements come directly from Microsoft’s partnership with OpenAI, which gives it access to many of the AI company’s best generative models.
Copilot is, after all, built on the foundation of OpenAI’s GPT models.
Among the changes Copilot fans will find on Windows (and the iOS and Android apps) is, finally, a memory. The current version of Copilot onWindows 11can hold onto previous conversations, but it has no recollection of what you discussed. A new prompt asking about a recipe or a trip you were planning with Copilot’s help days or weeks ago, would draw a digital blank stare from the generative AI.
That changes with this update. As you chat it up, Copilot will (with permission, of course) collect key bits of info about you that indicate not just facts but preferences. Microsoft claims the new Copilot will build “richer user profiles.” It now has the potential to “learn who you are deeply.” While that might sound invasive, Microsoft says you can control exactly what you want Copilot to learn and retain.
Personalization and memory are significant benefits but they might be outstripped by Copilot’s new agentic capabilities that Microsoft calls “Actions.” Where the previous Copilot might help you grab concert tickets and get a ride to the big show, or find a new apartment and even movers to help you lug your stuff from one place to the next, Copilot Actions can take a prompt about renting an apartment or booking storage and do all the legwork to make it happen. You’re just entering a prompt.
Of course, it’s not that simple. Copilot’s Action capabilities are not ubiquitous. Microsoft has a small collection of launch partners that includes, OpenTable, Priceline, Vrbo, Viator, Kayak, Expedia, TripAdvisor, Skyscanner, Booking.com, and 1-800-Flowers. It seems that, for now, Actions will only work if you want it to take actions through those apps and services.
Now see this
The update is also making Copilot on Windows and mobile apps more aware. While the current version can look at photos and screenshots uploaded to the AI, the new version can use your mobile phone camera to see what you’re seeing (it’ll look at photos or live video).
Perhaps more interesting is that the Copilot’s Windows app will be able to see onscreen activity within apps. It’ll finally live up to its name, acting as a copilot on file management, Windows settings, and working on projects. It’s the kind of system awarenessApple’s been promising fromApple Intelligenceand Siri for almost a year but has yet to deliver. It’ll be interesting to see if what Microsoft delivers here with Copilot is as good as they’re advertising.
The new Pages capabilities can take disparate project files and organize them into a single Canvas. But Pages appears to be more than an organizer, it can help you brainstorm ideas and then alter and incorporate them into your own projects.
Go deep
(Image credit: Microsoft)
If Pages isn’t getting your project there, you might appreciate the new Deep Research. I know, everyone is calling the research portion of their generative AI platforms “Deep [something]”. This one appears to work similarly in that it can help you accomplish multi-step research, acting as a sort of very intelligent research assistant.
Copilot is even delving into podcasts. Similar to what we’ve seen withSpotify generative AI podcastsandGoogle NotebookLM, it can generate podcasts based on topics of interest or other discussions you’ve had with the AI. Microsoft claims the podcast can play even as you continue to feed Copilot new prompts. It sounds a bit confusing, but also powerful and intriguing.
(Image credit: Microsoft)
There’s also a shopping update, turning Copilot into a proactive personal shopper that can watch for deals, do product research, and even handle purchasing.
Finally, Copilot is takingBingSearch in what might best be described as aGoogle AI Overviewsdirection, but in a subtle and maybe more palatable way. From the looks of things, Bing search results will offer the option to take a generative deep dive inside traditional search results. It looks pretty good in the demo video, but we’re anxious to see how it works on live Bing search results.
Not all of these updates will show up at once across Windows, iOS, and Android, but many are starting to roll out today. If you already haveWindows 11running Copilot, you may want to download the latest update and give your Copilot a radical AI Companion upgrade.
No more having to change your password just because you forgot it.
The new Microsoft screen to nudge you into using a passkey.(Image credit: Microsoft)
Microsoft wants its more than one billion users to stop using passwords to log into their Microsoft accounts.
This doesn’t mean that Microsoft will remove any kind of security when trying to log into an account. Instead, it’s looking for more of its users to use passkeys.
Passkeys are a more secure way of logging into accounts thatAppleandGooglehave already begun using since 2023. Microsoft plans to have an updated sign-in and sign-up page for these passkeys for its more than one billion users starting at the end of April, according to a new post on theMicrosoft Entra blog.
Microsoft laid out its plans to use passkeys back inMay 2024. The company eventually wants users to need only an email to sign up and sign on for a Microsoft account, with the passkey handling security.
A passkey is a secure way to log in to an account without using a password. Instead, the passkey uses two unique keys, known as a cryptographic key pair. One is stored on a device like a smartphone while the other is stored on the website you would login on. Both need to be used in order to access a site.
What’s important with the passkey is that the device user either uses biometrics or a PIN because when a user tries to sign onto the site, the device will need to use either for authentication. As the whole verification process is done electronically, all a person needs to do is enter the PIN, use a fingerprint, or just look at their phone for Face ID to verify who they are for the site.
The strength of passkeys is that they help diminish the effectiveness of phishing. If someone receives a phishing email that links to a website that looks just like a Microsoft login page, the user won’t have a password to enter. The bad actors also can’t replicate the key.
Passkeys are tied to a device, but they can be synced between multiple devices. This means changing a phone is no big deal as the passkeys just transfer to the new device.
BothAppleandGooglebegan the implementation of passkeys in their respective mobile operating systems back in 2023. While these three tech giants made the jump to passkeys, others have yet to make the jump.
Whether you’re buying a power supply unit for the first time or needing to upgrade to a higher-wattage brick, you’re going to want to pay close attention to the power supply ratings system.
Every PSU that you can buy right now will be 80 Plus certified, but not all are created equal, and the classifications are more of a spectrum than you may be aware of. It’s a voluntary certification program and not a legal requirement for the hardware, but it can give peace of mind as to the quality of a product, as it means it has been independently verified.
Some of the best PSUs on the market will have the highest 80 Plus certification, but there are many different qualifiers that a power brick has to meet before it can be awarded the right classification. We should stress that the most expensive options on the market will not necessarily be the best in terms of their rating, especially when factoring in different wattages available and which brands are making them in the first place.
I’m here to explain this power supply rating system in detail, including the full range of certifications, what they mean, and what to look out for. This includes the outline of non-modular, semi-modular, and fully-modular options, with considerations to the wattages as well. A good quality PSU can live upwards of 10 years (or more), so it’s important to make the right choice for the long haul.
Many (but not all) power supplies are rated on the 80 Plus certification system, and there are six different labels ascribed to a PSU.
These are 80 Plus, 80 Plus Bronze, 80 Plus Gold, 80 Plus Platinum, and 80 Plus Titanium. The scaling of precious metals into strength makes sense, and they are even color-coded accordingly at a glance, which can be helpful.
For over two decades, the 80 Plus rating system has been a measurement of a power supply’s energy efficiency. A power supply needs to run at 80% at an absolute minimum, hence the naming convention. They are tested under 10% (Platinum only), 20%, 50%, and 100% loads with their efficiency ratings ascribed numerically.
At first, there were only three ratings available, Bronze, Silver, and Gold, but these were expanded to Platinum in 2009 and Titanium in 2012 as PSUs became larger and more power-efficient with advancements in technology.
The ultimate goal is to come as close to 100% efficiency as possible, and we aren’t quite there yet. Traditionally speaking, 50% loads tend to be the primary focus in testing, which dictates a steady middle ground between the 20% minimum load and going all out at 100% (which are rarer by comparison).
Interestingly,80 Plus Ruby was freshly unveiled in March 2025as the latest certification for power supply units, exclusively for data center servers (and not consumer computers). It’s the first big development to the system in over 13 years, and it shows that we could see future power supplies come ever closer to reaching the coveted 100% efficiency rating. 80 Plus Ruby is said to achieve 96.5% efficiency, so we’re only within 3.6% of perfection.
Generally speaking, a more expensive PSU will feature a higher 80 Plus certification, but this isn’t always guaranteed. That’s because some higher wattage power bricks (or varying form factors) can carry extra features beyond their power effiencies. So it’s important to know the rough price ranges you should be expecting to pay, the average wattages commonly associated with the PSUs, and what is a top-tier model.
First off, we can touch upon the PSUs that are not 80 Plus certified. The certification system is a voluntary one showcasing efficiency and not a legal requirement, so many of the absolute cheapest PSUs on the market do not have this certification at all. I would only recommend power bricks that have been tested and certified.
The majority of entry-level power supplies from trusted manufacturers will be 80 Plus Bronze, and this is common with affordable options from Corsair, MSI, and GameMax. While not exclusive, we typically see wattages of 500 to 750 here, with prices between $50 and $80.
80 Plus Gold is the next step up and more common from upper midrange to higher-end power supply models from most trusted manufacturers. You’re paying more for the power efficiency by default, anywhere from $70 to upwards of $150, depending on the total wattage and form factor available.
The minimum that you’re realistically going to spend on an 80 Plus Platinum PSU will be around the $100 mark. However, it’s common to spend double (even triple) this amount depending on the manufacturer. Some budget offerings, such as the LC-POWER 850W Fully Modular, are 80 Plus Platinum for around $100, whereas more established models, such as the Corsair SF850 Fully Modular, are available closer to $200 depending on the year it was manufactured (whether it’s ATX 3.1 compliant, etc.)
Massive power supplies also tend to be 80 Plus Platinum-rated, which means they’re far more power-efficient under moderate loads. This is evident by the Corsair HX1500i Fully Modular and the NZXT C1500 Platinum, though you’ll be paying more than $300 for each of these models despite cheaper (similarly powerful) options being available. It ends up being a balancing act of price-to-performance, which you’ll (arguably) get more with an 80 Plus Gold PSU than its Platinum equivalent.
The pricing against the power efficiency increases once more with power supplies that are rated 80 Plus Titanium. Unsurprisingly, you’re paying a premium to get the highest possible rating of efficiency (and longevity), especially from a trusted manufacturer. For example, theBe Quiet Dark Power 13 850W is available for $279, with far larger bricks eclipsing this rate.
We can see this with theCorsair AX1600i for $610and theMSI MEG Ai1600T for $699.99; while not mutually exclusive, it’s far more common to see high-end, high-performance premium bricks carry this rating.
The 80 Plus rating system is entirely voluntary and not required for any company to release a power supply. Some of the best power supply brands will adhere to its independent testing to achieve verification on the easy-to-understand ranking system in good faith as it’s a good shorthand for a consumer to know it’s a quality product.
It’s common (if not always ensured) that just about any PSUs made by Be Quiet, Corsair, Cooler Master, Enermax, Fractal Design, Gigabyte, Lian-Li, MSI, NZXT, Seasonic, SilverStone, among others, will adhere to it.
This includes details on the measuring of the input voltage with C19 and C14 open connectors, as well as the frequencies at which the units are tested. This includes outlines for non-redundant tests at 50V and internal redundant tests at 60Hz with varying voltages accordingly, depending on whether it’s in the EU (230V) or North America (230V and 277/480V).
We also know the power source used for PSU testing, it’s an Amtek MX45-3PI-480-HV 3-phase 45 kVA solid stage voltage source used to test at 115V and 230V. A Chroma 61845 3-phase 45 kVA voltage source is used in testing 277V, 480V, and 380VDC. These are run through a power analyzer, the Yokogawa WT3000E, with varying settings and samples for input and output parameters.
CLEAResult also explained that it starts its testing protocols with a 0% load and then begins recording each operating load for 15 minutes. The process is repeated at 10%, 20%, 50%, and 100%. Should a PSU fail for any reason, the test is terminated, and a second unit is benched from the original point of failure. If it passes then the data is used for the report, but if it fails, the PSU line will not receive certification.
Based on the thorough nature of the testing, combined with the transparency of the process from CLEAResult, it’s apparent that only PSUs of a certain quality will meet the standards to become 80 Plus certified. We recommend thoroughly reading through the 19-page document for full clarification.
Given everything, we’re confident in recommending a minimum of an 80 Plus Bronze PSU, however, an 80 Plus Gold or 80 Plus Platinum brick will offer the highest level of efficiency for the money. 99.9% of computer users will not need an 80 Plus Titanium power brick, but it couldn’t hurt if you’re eyeing up a high-performance model.
