Windows 11 26H2 will be nearly effortless for systems on the 24H2 or 25H2 servicing branch, using the same 174KB enablement upgrade already expected for those devices. The important exception is Windows 11 26H1: because it runs on a separate code base, devices on that release will need a substantially different upgrade path rather than the tiny activation package.

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Microsoft’s free Delivery Optimization Troubleshooter gives Windows administrators a faster way to diagnose failed peer downloads and Microsoft Connected Cache problems. A single PowerShell command gathers service logs, policies, network data, performance counters, and event information, while an optional live-capture mode records the failure as it happens.

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Microsoft has published a detailed Windows 11 Delivery Optimization guide that could significantly reduce internet traffic during update and app rollouts. The recommended baseline expands local caches, keeps peer discovery on the LAN, and uses deployment rings so a small group of devices seeds content before larger waves begin.

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AI can help you patch faster. It can also help you make the wrong call faster.

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Windows 11 Insider build 26220.9202 gives the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) access to eligible Wi-Fi profiles saved in the main operating system, including supported certificate-based networks. The change removes a major obstacle for connected recovery tasks and is expected to reach Windows 11 version 26H2 later this year.

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ChromeOS 151 is rolling out to Chromebooks and ChromeOS Flex devices with 18 security fixes, real-time Safe Browsing for Gemini sessions, and a cutoff that leaves some older Flex PCs permanently on ChromeOS 150. The release also completes the transition announced when ChromeOS 150 ended legacy Chrome Apps in kiosk mode, so affected kiosk deployments must now use alternatives such as Progressive Web Apps.

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Microsoft has moved its rebuilt Print Management app into the Windows 11 Release Preview channel, putting the modern replacement much closer to general release. The decades-old console had previously appeared as an early experiment in a WinUI 3 Print Management rebuild; it is now included in Windows 11 builds 26100.9267 and 26200.9267, released as KB5120998 on August 14.

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A new Microsoft Graph PowerShell workflow can permanently remove matching notification messages from Microsoft 365 mailboxes in batches of 20, reducing network round trips during tenant-wide cleanup. It extends the JSON batching approach for large Graph tasks from account updates to destructive mailbox operations.

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Microsoft has moved the Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line (WMIC) removal into the KB5120998 Release Preview update, turning the planned WMIC removal into a concrete rollout. Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 will no longer offer the legacy utility as a Feature on Demand, so administrators cannot reinstall it through Optional Features or DISM.

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Microsoft will completely remove the Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line utility (WMIC) from Windows 11 26H2 after roughly 25 years of availability. The upcoming release will not include WMIC, and administrators will no longer be able to restore it through the Feature on Demand package.

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Microsoft has delayed Exchange Server Subscription Edition CU1 beyond its original first-half 2026 target and now says it still cannot provide a firm release date. The team is continuing to fold monthly security fixes into its internal CU1 build and plans to release it when the update reaches a stable point without an immediate security release looming. Security work is taking priority

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Windows device recovery now spans automatic boot fixes, full cloud rebuilds, point-in-time rollback, and temporary Cloud PCs for failed or unavailable hardware. The biggest practical change for IT teams is the combination of Intune policies, OneDrive, Autopilot, and Windows settings backup, which can restore a user’s familiar environment after a rebuild or device replacement.

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Microsoft’s August 2026 Exchange Server security update permanently disables OWA Light and addresses an authentication-bypass vulnerability that security researchers demonstrated at Pwn2Own. The release also determines whether Exchange Server 2016 and 2019 customers can continue receiving updates: only organizations enrolled in Period 2 Extended Security Updates are eligible.

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SQL Server Management Studio 22.9.0 tightens GitHub Copilot Ask Mode so it cannot execute queries, while delivering a substantial redesign of the Modern Connection Dialog. The update also improves Azure and Fabric resource discovery, connection portability, SQL formatting, and Database DevOps workflows.

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Windows 10 remains installed on 16.9% of enterprise PCs nearly a year after support ended, according to Lansweeper data. The remaining systems are concentrated in sectors such as healthcare, retail, and small businesses, where Windows 10 now has a substantially larger vulnerability burden than Windows 11.

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Microsoft is adding administrator controls and a dedicated uninstall option for the controversial OneDrive Photos experience in Windows 11. The removal option is scheduled to begin rolling out in September 2026 without deleting files or disrupting the OneDrive sync client.

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Microsoft will add a separate uninstall option for the OneDrive Photos experience in September 2026. Windows 11 users will be able to remove the unwanted app without deleting the OneDrive sync client, interrupting file synchronization, or removing cloud-stored photos and files.

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Microsoft is urging organizations running Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 to move to Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC 2024 rather than rely on Extended Security Updates. Support ends in January 2027, while ESU will cost businesses up to $61 per device.

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When a PC is slow, hangs, or feels laggy, Windows can record a detailed performance trace while the problem occurs. A performance trace is a separate binary file (.etl) that captures fine-grained timing data about CPU, disk, memory, waits, and similar activity. Microsoft's early-preview tools ETW MCP and WPA MCP let an AI assistant ask questions about that .etl file in plain language, so you spend less time hunting through unfamiliar charts and tables.

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