Windows Latest had spotted references to “Windows 11 24H2” in support documents, and Microsoft has now officially confirmed the update. In a new blog post announcing Sudo for Windows, Microsoft noted that testers in the Dev/Canary channels will notice “Windows 11 version 24H2” in Settings, Winver and other places.

This confirms the big update of the year is called “Windows 11 24H2”, and not “Windows 12”. Windows 11 24H2 is supposed to be the biggest “AI upgrade” for the OS and will carry a Build number in the 26xxx range. You’ll notice the updated version and numbers in Settings > System > About after installing Build 26052 or newer.

“This denotes that Windows 11, version 24H2 will be this year’s annual feature update, Microsoft noted.

“Windows 11 will have an annual feature update cadence that releases in the second half of the calendar year,” the company clarified, adding that it will continue to focus on the annual feature update approach.

Even though companies like Qualcomm suggested Microsoft might release something like Windows 12, Microsoft has decided to stick with Windows 11 for now.

So does that mean bigger changes are not expected? Well, not really. It is important to understand that the branding of Windows releases isn’t important.

Even though the next version of Windows isn’t named Windows 12, but rather “Windows 11 2024 Update,” it doesn’t mean there won’t be significant updates or changes. The names and branding of the operating system are chosen by the marketing team, which means they can decide on any name that fits their strategy.

Windows has a new leadership headed by the Microsoft Bing team, which wants more people to try Windows Copilot and other AI features. To achieve this, Microsoft plans to focus on releasing new updates for Windows 11 instead of creating another Windows release like Windows 12.

It is worth noting that Windows 12 has not been cancelled, and it may still happen in 2025 or later. According to sources familiar with the development, Microsoft is also believed to be working on a ChromeOS-like variant of the OS to take on the Chromebooks in the education market.

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In a now-deleted blog post, which was first spotted and cached by Windows Latest, Microsoft confirmed Sudo for Windows is a new way to “elevated commands directly from an unelevated console session”, and it has plans to make the feature open-source on GitHub.

Microsoft describes Sudo for Windows as “an ergonomic and familiar solution for users who want to elevate a command without having to first open a new elevated console”. Sudo for Windows is in the early stages of development, and it was recently spotted in a leaked Windows Server 2025 build.

In a deleted blog post, Microsoft notes that Sudo can be enabled from Settings > For Developers page, and toggle on the “Enable Sudo” option.

You can also enable Sudo for Windows by running the following command in an elevated console session:

sudo config --enable <configuration_option>

As we previously reported, Sudo for Windows currently supports three different configuration options:

• In a new window (newWindow): In this configuration, Sudo for Windows will open a new elevated console window and run the command in that window. This is the default configuration option when sudo is enabled. For example, if you run:
  sudo netstat -abA new window will open and the command will be run in that window
• Input closed (disableInput): In this configuration, Sudo for Windows will run the elevated process in the current window, but the new process will be spawned with its stdinput closed. This means that the new process will not accept any user input, so this configuration will not work for processes that require further user input after elevation.
• Inline (normal): This configuration is most similar to the behavior of sudo on other operating systems. In this configuration, Sudo for Windows will run the elevated process with its stdinput, stdoutput, and stderror all connected to the current window. This means the new elevated process can take in input and route output to the current window.

Microsoft explains how Sudo for Windows works

When you run a process from the command-line with sudo, a UAC dialog will appear, asking the user to confirm the elevation. And you’ll be able to use sudo in the terminal like you do on Linux or macOS.

In a New Window

In this configuration, sudo.exe will launch a new elevated console window and run the command in that window. The new window will be launched with the same working directory as the current window.

The new window will also be launched with the same environment variables as the current window. This configuration has a similar flow to the runas command.

Input Closed and Inline

In these configurations, sudo.exe will launch a new elevated process, an elevated sudo.exe process, and the original unelevated sudo.exe will establish an RPC connection with the new elevated process.

In other words, information is passed from the unelevated sudo instance to the elevated one. Specifically, the console handles from the unelevated process are passed to the elevated process which allows the elevated process to read input from the unelevated process and write output to the unelevated process.

However, when sudo is configured in the “Input Closed” configuration, the elevated process will essentially not be passed the console’s input handle, so it will not be able to read input from the user.

It is important when running sudo in the “Inline” or “Input Closed” configurations to be aware of the security implications. It is possible that a medium integrity process can drive the elevated process. This risk is mitigated in the “Input Closed” configuration because the elevated process will not be able to read input from the user.

Microsoft noted that it will also be publishing documentation for Sudo for Windows and will be sharing more details about the security implications of running sudo in the “Inline” configuration.

“Our team is working on open-sourcing Sudo for Windows, and we’re excited to share more details about our plans in the coming months,” the company noted in a now-deleted blog post.

The post Microsoft confirms Sudo is coming to Windows 11 with Build 26052 appeared first on Windows Latest

In the latest version of WhatsApp, rolling out via the Microsoft Store to select people, you can finally choose your audio output/input device and camera. By default, WhatsApp uses your default system audio or camera device. For example, if your PC’s default audio device is your speaker, WhatsApp will use your speakers.

This experience is not necessarily what you want all the time. Sometimes, you might want to use your wireless headphones or speaker for output and a wired mic for input. To help you quickly change your settings, Facebook is adding a new “Voice & Video” setting to WhatsApp for Windows.

As you can see in the above screenshot, you can finally manually specify what audio output device you want in WhatsApp. You can also select your preferred camera and test the setup by clicking the new “Record from your mic” button.

These features are particularly useful when playing something through your speakers or another audio device while also connected to a WhatsApp call using your wireless earphones.

WhatsApp is testing Sticker Maker on Windows 11

Another new feature on WhatsApp for Windows 11 is a built-in Sticker Marker. WhatsApp Stickers have been around for a while now, but it’s difficult to add a custom sticker to the desktop app.

At the moment, if you want to try a new custom Sticker on WhatsApp for desktop, you need to use it on your phone or add it to your favourites using another device.

This is somewhat different to when you’re on the phone, where you can quickly create stickers using images or third-party apps. But with the latest WhatsApp for Windows 11 update, there is a new option that lets you use your images as stickers.

To turn your images into stickers, all you need to do is open the WhatsApp Stickers section, click on the “+” icon, and select the .jpg or .png image from File Explorer.

This is a quick and easy way to add custom stickers that enable you to compose messages with more emotions than ever.

It is worth noting that Meta is testing the Sticker Maker with select people, and it’s one of the new features rolling out in the stable version along with WhatsApp’s built-in screen share tool.

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In 2023, Microsoft announced that Windows 11 will get its own Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) version sometime in 2024. And the leaked build confirms that the LTSC version is definitely on its way. But when will it become available to the general public? As per Microsoft, you can expect LTSC in the second half of 2024.

“We realize that a clear Windows client roadmap update helps consumers and organizations with planning their Windows release activities,” Microsoft said in a blog post published in 2023. Windows 11 2024 LTSC would be the first LTSC release of Windows 11, and it will be based on “version 24H2“.

It’s worth noting that this is an unreleased LTSC edition of Build 25941, which was released to testers in August 2023. So, the leaked build is based on a much older version, 23H2, and it doesn’t confirm what’s coming with Windows 11 2024 LTSC.

Closer look at Windows 11 LTSC (2024)

In fact, the leaked ISO is dated August 2023, so it wouldn’t be correct to draw conclusions from it. But here are some early observations from the leak, which are subject to change:

• Microsoft is working on an IoT Enterprise Subscription version of Windows 11 for business customers. We are unsure how it differs from the non-subscription version but do not assume the company is making Windows a subscription-based OS.
  
• The new Outlook, based on the web version of Outlook.com, is pre-installed and replaces Mail & Calendar.
  

This early build of the Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) version of Windows 11 has been circulating on the Chinese forums for a week, but you are strongly advised not to install it on any real hardware.

Windows 11 LTSC 2024 is expected in the second half

As you probably know, Microsoft plans to end support for Windows 10 Home, Pro, Enterprise, and Education on October 14, 2025. However, Long Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) versions of Windows 10 will be supported by Microsoft until January 1, 2027.

Windows 11 LTSC, which will debut later this year, will be supported for at least 10 years, depending on the servicing model you choose.

There is no other information, but Microsoft said the company would share more details in 2024 or when we get closer to the launch.

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As you probably know, the Windows Settings app is divided into categories like System, Bluetooth & devices, Network & internet, Personalization, and more. But there’s also a section called “Home”, which is a dashboard that shows the overall configuration of Windows, such as your preferred theme and connected devices.

Microsoft also uses this page of Settings to promote its services like 365. Over the weekend, Microsoft has started showing “Microsoft Copilot Pro” recommendations within the Settings app.

Windows 11 KB5034220 has Copilot recommendations

The ad says that if you get Copilot Pro, you can use newer GPT versions, including ChatGPT-4 Turbo, and create AI images faster. There are two buttons: one to get Copilot Pro and another to learn what’s included in it. Whether you like the ad, it cannot be dismissed or removed.

On the same page, there’s a section to try Microsoft 365 for free, which includes apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. At the bottom of the screen, there are options to get help or give feedback about Windows.

These recommendations aren’t technically ads but rather a ” Cards ” feature, which is why you cannot dismiss or remove them. However, that’s not the only place to come across Copilot Pro recommendations.

If you go to the Accounts page of Settings, where you can manage your Microsoft account, you’ll notice another Copilot Pro alert.

Starting with KB5034220, the Copilot Pro subscription card is being added to two pages of Windows Settings, and these ads will likely arrive in the production builds in the coming days.

We noticed that links for Copilot in the Settings app have a “ref” parameter in the URLs, which is typically used to track where users are coming from. In these cases, Microsoft is using the “accountspagelearnmore” and “amchomelearnmore” URL parameters to understand whether you interact with the ads in Settings.

Copilot Pro for Windows also has ads, which typically pop up when you ask the AI about services like Amazon Prime Video. Ads aren’t normally bad, but one would expect Copilot to be ad-free when paying for the service.

It’s also worth noting that these are not the first instances of ads or recommendations for Microsoft services in Windows. Similar ads have been spotted for OneDrive, Microsoft 365 and Edge in Windows 11 or 10.

The post Windows 11 KB5034220 tests Microsoft Copilot Pro ads in the Settings app appeared first on Windows Latest

For those unaware, Qualcomm revealed the Snapdragon X, a new laptop-class Arm CPU, during an event in 2023. Unlike the previous generation, Windows on ARM processors, Snapdragon X Elite is so powerful that it can outperform Apple’s M3 SoC. It can also compete against Intel and AMD’s x86 CPUs.

Speaking to the investors during the Q1 2024 earnings call, Qualcomm confirmed its new Apple M3-killer chipset dubbed “Snapdragon X Elite” will debut during the back-to-school season and is also tied to a Windows launch. According to Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon,  there will be plenty of “X Elite” models, hinting at “big plans”.

Qualcomm’s CEO, Cristiano Amon, stated that its Snapdragon X Elite chipset for PCs is scheduled for a mid-2024 release and is designed to work hand-in-hand with the next version of Windows.

“We’re tracking to the launch of products with this chipset tied with the next version of Microsoft Windows that has a lot of the Windows AI capabilities,” Amon said.

Qualcomm believes the mid-2024 timing aligns perfectly with the back-to-school season, aiming to make a significant impact in the market.

“We like that everybody is now talking about on-device AI on PC. That’s where we started this journey with X Elite. And I think that proved to be a tailwind to the opportunity for us in PCs,” Amon added.

Qualcomm didn’t tell us the name of the next big Windows release, but the company confirmed that Microsoft is testing several AI features. It is worth noting that Qualcomm is an important partner of Microsoft, and it’s hoping that the next big Windows release will be a game changer in the market.

While answering another investor’s question, Qualcomm’s CEO highlighted increasing design wins since the Snapdragon X Elite’s announcement last October. The Snapdragon X Elite aims to set a new benchmark for next-generation Windows PCs, focusing on on-device AI, a field where Qualcomm has been pioneering.

This initiative is part of Qualcomm’s broader strategy following its acquisition of NUVIA, where the focus has shifted towards designing custom cores for the PC market. This move was motivated by the need to achieve performance leadership within the Windows ecosystem, requiring Qualcomm to develop its CPU technology.

The success of the X Elite chipset is seen as a stepping stone for Qualcomm, not just in PCs but across all its product lines. Previously, Qualcomm made some big claims that Snapdragon X Elite is much faster than Apple M chips, which was also observed in leaked benchmarks.

Is it Windows 11 or Windows 12?

While nobody knows whether the next version is Windows 12 or Windows 11, we’ve spotted multiple references to “Windows 11 24H2”.

A support document, first spotted by Windows Latest, also confirmed that Windows 11 version 24H2 codenamed “Hudson Valley” is most definitely on the way.

You can expect the big AI upgrade to arrive first on Snapdragon X Elite SoC-based PCs in mid-2024 from various vendors, including Dell, HP, and Lenovo. After debuting on Snapdragon X Elite processors, the big Windows AI upgrade will ship to existing hardware in September-October.

The post Qualcomm: Big Windows AI upgrade, Snapdragon X Elite for mid 2024 to topple Apple M3 appeared first on Windows Latest

So what went wrong? According to reports on Feedback Hub and Microsoft’s forums, Microsoft auto-updated its inbox apps via its Store on January 23. While the updates were supposed to be regular maintenance releases, they broke the inbox apps like Microsoft Photos, Calculator, Mail and Calendar, Feedback Hub, and more.

Based on the reports we’ve received from users, these apps immediately crash upon launching with an error message “File system error (-2147219196)”. This bug seems to affect older hardware only, such as AMD Athlon, Intel Quad, and Core 2 Duo processors, which were in the market in the early 2000s.

“Once you have an update, you can’t go back. Microsoft does this, and on top of that, without warning is a dirty move,” one frustrated user noted in a Feedback Hub post.

Another user explained the problem: I am experiencing the same issue. Microsoft Photos worked yesterday, but it is giving the same “File System Error (-2147219196)” on Windows 10 Pro on 1 PC, but it is still working on another.

Why Windows 10 apps are crashing with File System Error (-2147219196)?

The root cause of the issue lies within a critical package, “vclibs framework”, used by several inbox apps. This package contains libraries that help Microsoft Inbox apps like Photos and Calculator run correctly.

Recently, a change in the vclibs framework inadvertently made these apps require SSE4.2 instructions.

As Wikipedia notes, SSE has been around for decades, but version SSE4.2 shipped much later in 2011 and is not supported by older processors. SSE4.2 helps a computer’s processor handle data more efficiently, leading to better performance when opening apps.

Microsoft accidentally made SSE4.2 a mandatory requirement for vclibs framework. As a result, Windows 10 PCs with older processors, which lack SSE4.2 support, are unable  to launch the following apps:

• Photos
• Calculator
• Mail & Calendar
• Film & TV (aka Movies & TV).
• Feedback Hub.
• Paint 3D.
• 3D Viewer.
• Game Bar

That’s because older processors cannot handle or execute the SSE4.2 instructions for the apps, which are now “accidentally” required by the vclibs framework.

In a statement, a Microsoft support staff confirmed it’s aware of the issue, and new app packages containing the fix will begin rolling out via the Windows Store in the coming hours.

It’s worth noting that these processors are officially unsupported, but some people still run Windows 10 on them.

Unlike other tech companies, Microsoft has a good track record of maintaining backward compatibility. Windows 10 remains supported until October 2025, and this error appears to be a genuine mistake by the Visual Studio team.

The post Microsoft confirms Windows 10 File system error (2147219196) crashing apps appeared first on Windows Latest

The support document, first discovered by Windows Latest, may have unintentionally confirmed the arrival of Windows 11 24H2. The documentation talks about the EnumDeviceDrivers function, a component used by developers and systems administrators to work with drivers.

Microsoft’s website sheds light on the history of this function, mentioning how it has evolved since Windows 7. The most noteworthy update mentioned in the document is for Windows 11 Version 24H2. It states that Windows 11 24H2 changes how to get specific information from the EnumDeviceDrivers function.

While this document is geared towards developers, the accidental mention of Windows 11 24H2 is an exciting hint at the next big Windows release.

According to other internal documents seen by Windows Latest, Microsoft is planning a broader rollout of Windows 11 24H2 in late Q3 or early Q4. This confirms previous rumours that Windows 11’s most significant AI upgrade looks to be getting ready for release later in September-October, with preview builds being internally tested.

While it’s widely believed that the next version of Microsoft’s OS will be called Windows 12, there’s little doubt about the theory. It’s possible Microsoft may have decided against “Windows 12” branding after recent organization shake-ups, and Windows 11 24H2 is indeed the next big release.

This means Windows 12 may not be coming in 2024, and Microsoft will retain Windows 11 branding for now. PC makers like HP are also using “Windows 11 2024 Update” when referencing the next big Windows release. On the other hand, Qualcomm still uses an unspecified “Windows OS” term when referring to the next Windows release.

What to expect in Windows 11 24H2

Microsoft appears to be working on a new version of Copilot for Windows 11, with features like contextual awareness and deeper integration with other apps or services.

For example, you can access messages from your Android phone using Copilot, which is already in the works on the web version. Similarly, Copilot will integrate with many other apps so that you can use the AI everywhere.

Of course, you can also expect significant performance improvements.

The post Microsoft document confirms Windows 11 24H2 update appeared first on Windows Latest

If you’ve ever downloaded an archived file in .zip, tar, GZ, and other formats, you would have used an extra program or apps like WinRAR or 7 Zip to extract its content. Windows 11 gained support for Zip, TAR, GZ and other formats last year, and Microsoft is now adding a new tool to make the process even easier.

Starting with Windows 11 Build 26040 (Canary) or newer, it is possible to manually select the archive format and change the compression method and compression level. When you select a file and click “Compress to”, you can choose between Zip (default) and “Additional options”.

The additional options button opens a new “Create Archive” wizard that lets you switch between 7zip, TAR, and ZIP archive formats. These are just different ways to store the files.

Similarly, it lets you decide how the files are compressed to take up less room.

Different methods can be used, but what you can choose depends on the format you picked. The options are Store (which doesn’t compress at all), Deflate (a common way that shrinks files), BZip2, Xz, Standard, LZMA1, and LZMA2 (these are just different methods that can make files smaller).

You can also change the compression level. This is a number from 0 to 9 that tells Windows how much to try to shrink the files. A higher number means the files will take up less space, but it might take longer to reduce the size.

As you can see in the above screenshot, Microsoft has added two toggles or special options – Retain symbolic links and hard links. If you select the option, Windows will make sure that certain types of shortcuts in the files are kept the same when compressed into the archive.

Windows 11’s new tool compresses files to make them smaller and more organized, giving you different choices on how to do that.

So, how does the whole integration work so smoothly? Microsoft previously confirmed the company used the open-source lib archive project, a library of file archive formats, to bring the native archive functionality to Windows 11.

Thanks to the open-source tool integration, Microsoft may also enable support for additional file formats in future, such as XAR and LZH.

The post Windows 11 native archive will let you change compression level, method and more appeared first on Windows Latest

You might be familiar with “Sudo” if you’ve used Linux-based Distro or Linux on a server or have a macOS. The Sudo command in Linux or macOS allows modifying system files, changing system settings, system-wide updates and more. The same command is now heading to Windows 11.

The Sudo “superuser do” command is coming to Windows 11 as part of the developer settings. It may allow you to manage settings that require administrative privileges, such as uninstalling apps, changing system settings, or other developer-related settings. You’ll find the Sudo toggle in the developer settings of Windows 11.

First look at Sudo settings in Windows 11

The Sudo command requires you to enable the developer mode, but it currently doesn’t work in the leaked builds.

As you can see in the above screenshots, you’ll be able to configure Sudo command behaviour by setting preferences for how commands run with Sudo work:

• In a new window: This might mean that when you run a command with Sudo, it opens in a separate new window, possibly a terminal window, where the command is executed.
• With input disabled: It’s unclear how this toggle works. However, if we go by the name, it could indicate a security feature where input from the keyboard or mouse is temporarily disabled while the Sudo command is running to prevent unauthorized actions during its execution.
• Inline: This might allow the Sudo command to execute within the current window or context without opening a new window, which could be helpful for quick tasks or when working within an integrated development environment (IDE).

The Sudo settings also warned that running command could expose the device and personal data to security risks and potentially harm your device without explaining the titbits.

You’ll be able to access the Sudo command using Command Prompt, PowerShell, or any terminal interface on Windows as long as the feature is enabled and developer mode is turned on.

We don’t know when the Sudo command is coming to the production (stable) builds, but it’s possible it could ship outside Windows 11 version 24H2. In the past, Microsoft has backported features to older versions of Windows.

Windows 11 24H2 is the next big platform release of the OS with exciting AI features, such as an advanced version of Copilot and an AI-powered automatic super-resolution feature for wallpapers.

Some initially believed this year’s update could debut as “Windows 12”, but references and sources have refuted such claims.

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