TechCapsules

Microsoft updated Windows 11’s long‑standing Mouse Indicator in Insider Preview Build 26340.9502, released September 18 2026. The new animation is smoother and can be triggered by a single or double Ctrl press. Users can now keep the indicator visible until they press Esc or click, a feature previously unavailable. The update is accessed via Settings > Accessibility > Mouse pointer and touch. PowerToys’ Find My Mouse remains more configurable, but the built‑in tool now matches modern UI standards.

Microsoft’s Windows 11 Cloud Rebuild feature now includes Drive Sanitization and Remote Deployment via Recovery CSP, enabling secure wipe of storage before reinstalling Windows. The new “Remove & sanitize files” option instructs compatible hardware to erase data, while the standard “Remove files” option merely clears local data, which may still be recoverable. Administrators can trigger rebuilds remotely, making the tool useful for enterprises that recycle, reassign, or decommission PCs. The feature operates entirely from the Windows Recovery [...]

Microsoft’s design and research chief, Marcus Ash, explained that many Windows 11 users do not immediately see new features after monthly updates because Microsoft rolls out changes in staggered waves to ensure stability. Users report delayed visibility of updates such as the movable taskbar, resizable Start menu, and Bing‑free search. Ash urged users to enable the “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” toggle in Settings > Windows Update to receive features earlier, though the toggle [...]

Richard Devine, Managing Editor at Windows Central, focuses on Windows, PCs, open‑source software and gaming. He writes about the Windows ecosystem while personally favoring terminal‑based workflows, frequently scouting GitHub for emerging tools. Devine regularly experiments with Windows Subsystem for Linux to bridge Windows and Linux functionality. Outside work, he spends extensive time on gaming titles such as The Division 2, Forza Horizon and the Call of Duty series, tracking evolving metas. He emphasizes community engagement, aiming to provide [...]

Microsoft clarified that Windows’ default Fast Startup feature does not fully shut down the operating system. When a user clicks Shut Down, the kernel session is hibernated and stored in hiberfil.sys, allowing the next boot to resume the saved state and boot quickly. Restart, however, terminates the kernel session entirely, forcing a cold boot that reloads drivers and clears potential driver‑related issues. The article explains the technical differences, the purpose of Fast Startup, and its impact on troubleshooting. [...]

Microsoft reintroduced the ability to move the Windows 11 taskbar and resize the Start menu after five years of omission. The features were removed when Windows 11 launched because the new OS did not inherit much of the legacy Win32 code that handled taskbar positioning, forcing engineers to rebuild the component from scratch and prioritize functionality. Tali Roth, then head of Windows core user experience, explained that supporting a movable taskbar required extensive reflow work for every [...]

Microsoft has quietly altered Windows 11’s lock screen, making Weather the sole default widget and removing other MSN‑powered cards such as Sports, Money, and Daily Discovery. The change, documented in the August 27 preview update and rolled out in the September 8 Patch Tuesday release, follows user complaints about clutter. Users can still add or remove widgets via Settings > Personalization > Lock screen, or disable widgets entirely. The update reflects Microsoft’s effort to streamline the lock screen after earlier [...]

A 2026 review ranks five paid Windows antivirus products and Microsoft Defender. Norton 360 tops the list, completing a full scan in 13 minutes 22 seconds and offering a robust firewall and 250 GB cloud backup. Bitdefender excels on older PCs, keeping CPU usage at 11 % and memory at 183 MB during a sweep. Avast One delivers a free, lab‑certified solution. NordVPN Threat Protection Pro provides full Windows protection for VPN subscribers. McAfee + offers unlimited device coverage but has the slowest scan. Microsoft [...]