Windows 11 Has New Emoji. Here’s How to Find Them

Windows 11 Has New Emoji. Here’s How to Find Them

Windows 11 is adding Emoji 17.0 support, bringing new choices to messages, documents, emails, and social posts. Better yet, Microsoft hasn’t changed the familiar shortcut you use to find them.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

October 28, 2026

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Ever have a reaction that deserves something more expressive than a thumbs-up?

Windows 11 has some fresh choices. 

Microsoft’s September 2026 preview update adds support for Emoji 17.0, with Microsoft highlighting distorted face, fight cloud, and hairy creature among the additions. 

The company also refreshed the appearance of several familiar choices, including saluting face, face with peeking eye, goose, lotus, and kissing cat.

The nice part is that Microsoft didn’t hide them behind a new app or complicated setting. 

You still open the built-in emoji panel with a familiar keyboard shortcut.

Here’s a Cool Tip: Press Windows + . to discover your new emoji.

Write Like a Renaissance Master With Michelangelus

Write Like a Renaissance Master With Michelangelus

A little Renaissance history just arrived for your font collection. Michelangelus is a new serif typeface inspired by Michelangelo’s handwriting and works, giving documents, presentations, invitations, and creative projects a distinctive connection to the Renaissance.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

October 21, 2026

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Imagine putting a little Michelangelo into your next Word document or PowerPoint presentation.

Michelangelus is a new serif typeface inspired by the work and handwritten manuscripts of Renaissance master Michelangelo Buonarroti. 

The font was commissioned by the Fabbrica di San Pietro, the organization responsible for St. Peter’s Basilica, to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the basilica’s consecration. 

It was created by Studiogusto, an independent creative agency from Italy and Germany.

This is not simply Michelangelo’s handwriting scanned and converted into a computer font. 

The designers deliberately chose not to imitate his handwriting exactly. 

Instead, they studied his manuscripts and translated aspects of his writing into a contemporary typeface.

Even better, you can download and install Michelangelus right now. 

Microsoft Design also plans to distribute the font through Microsoft 365 applications, including Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, at the end of 2026.

Here’s a Cool Tip: Download Michelangelus now and give your next project some Renaissance personality.

Stop Resizing Windows: Make Apps Open Maximized

Stop Resizing Windows: Make Apps Open Maximized

Tired of opening an app only to immediately click the Maximize button? A new Windows 11 accessibility setting can automatically maximize app windows as they open, eliminating one small but repetitive step.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

October 14, 2026

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Open an app. 

Click Maximize. 

Open another app. 

Click Maximize again.

If that's part of your daily Windows routine, Microsoft has added a simple setting that can eliminate those extra clicks.

Called "Open apps maximized," the new Windows 11 accessibility option automatically maximizes app windows when they open. 

Microsoft introduced it in the September 22, 2026 optional preview update, KB5124010, for Windows 11 versions 24H2, 25H2, and 26H2.

The feature is also part of the improvements carried forward into Microsoft's October 13, 2026 security update, KB5127648.

There's one catch. 

Microsoft is delivering Open apps maximized through a gradual rollout, which means it may reach different PCs at different times. 

Feature availability depends on the device and market.

For people who prefer working with a large app window, particularly on laptops or smaller displays, this is the kind of tiny Windows improvement that could quietly make everyday computing easier.

Here’s a Cool Tip: Let Windows maximize your apps automatically.

Stop Searching Windows Settings. Let Copilot Find Them for You

Stop Searching Windows Settings. Let Copilot Find Them for You

Windows 11 has hundreds of settings, and finding the right one isn't always easy. Microsoft Copilot can help you locate, open, and understand settings using plain English, reducing frustration and saving time.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

October 7, 2026

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Windows 11 gives users an incredible amount of control over their PCs, but that flexibility comes with a challenge. 

Here's a Cool Tip: Use Copilot as your personal Windows 11 settings guide.

Important settings can be buried several menus deep, making even simple tasks frustrating when you cannot remember where Microsoft placed a particular option.

Need to change your microphone? 

Connect Bluetooth headphones? 

Adjust battery settings? 

Make text larger?

Instead of clicking through Settings and hunting for the right menu, try asking Microsoft Copilot.

Microsoft includes Windows Settings support as part of the Copilot experience on Windows. 

The feature allows users to ask questions in natural language and receive guidance for locating settings, troubleshooting issues, and managing their PC.

The biggest benefit is simple: you no longer need to remember where Microsoft hid a setting.

Stop Losing Your Windows Every Time You Reconnect a Monitor

Stop Losing Your Windows Every Time You Reconnect a Monitor

If you use a laptop with an external monitor, you've probably experienced windows scattered across the wrong screens after reconnecting your setup. Windows 11 includes a built-in feature that can automatically restore many windows to their previous locations, helping you get back to work faster.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

September 30, 2026

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You disconnect your laptop from a docking station, head to a meeting, and later reconnect everything at your desk. 

Instead of jumping right back into work, you spend several minutes dragging Outlook, Excel, Teams, and browser windows back to the monitors where they belong.

Here's a Cool Tip: Turn on Remember Window Locations and let Windows put your apps back where they belong.

That annoyance is common among Windows users who work with multiple displays. Fortunately, Windows 11 includes a setting designed to reduce this frustration. 

When enabled, Windows can remember where your application windows were placed before a monitor was disconnected and attempt to restore them when the display is reconnected.

Microsoft includes this capability within Windows 11's Multiple Displays settings, giving users a simple way to maintain a more consistent workspace when moving between desk setups, docking stations, and portable work environments. 

Windows can remember window locations based on monitor connections and restore them after reconnecting external displays.

Microsoft’s Emergency Windows 11 Fix Tackles Major Problems

Microsoft’s Emergency Windows 11 Fix Tackles Major Problems

Microsoft has released an emergency Windows 11 update to repair Remote Desktop, Hyper-V file-sharing, and multichannel USB audio problems. The cumulative update also includes protection against an elevation-of-privilege vulnerability, making it an important release for affected users and IT teams.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

September 16, 2026

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A Windows update can quickly become a business problem when remote employees cannot sign in, virtual machines lose access to shared folders, or specialized audio equipment stops working correctly.

Here’s a Cool Tip: Check Windows Update now if Remote Desktop, Hyper-V, or USB audio recently stopped working.

Microsoft released KB5129195 on September 14, 2026, outside its regular update schedule. 

The cumulative out-of-band update applies to Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2 and brings those systems to OS builds 26200.9457 and 26100.9457, respectively.

The update addresses several issues introduced or exposed by the September 2026 Windows security updates. 

The failures affected Remote Desktop Services, host-folder sharing with certain Linux virtual machines, and some multichannel USB audio configurations. 

It also includes protections documented under CVE-2026-62721, a Windows User-Mode Power Service elevation-of-privilege vulnerability.

Windows 11 Adds Long-Requested Taskbar and Start Controls

Windows 11 Adds Long-Requested Taskbar and Start Controls

Microsoft’s latest Windows 11 preview update gives users more control over the taskbar, Start menu, Search, and File Explorer. The improvements are practical, but known issues mean you may want to wait before installing the update on an essential PC.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

September 9, 2026

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One of the most common complaints about Windows 11 has been its limited customization. Microsoft’s August 2026 preview update addresses several of those frustrations by restoring flexible taskbar positioning and adding more control over the Start menu.

Here’s a Cool Tip: Wait for the wider rollout unless you need the new controls now.

The optional KB5120998 update applies to Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2. 

It advances those systems to OS builds 26100.9278 and 26200.9278, respectively. 

Microsoft released the update on August 27, 2026, and identifies it as a non-security preview containing quality improvements.

The main attractions are a taskbar that can move to any edge of the screen, a smaller taskbar option, adjustable Start menu sizes, clearer Search results, and a more responsive File Explorer Home. 

Some features are being released gradually, so two eligible PCs may not receive every change at the same time.

Give Sensitive Documents Extra Protection in OneDrive

Give Sensitive Documents Extra Protection in OneDrive

OneDrive Personal Vault places sensitive files behind an additional identity check and locks them again after inactivity. It is a practical place for passport scans, tax records, insurance documents, and other files that deserve more protection than an ordinary cloud folder.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

September 2, 2026

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Your vacation photos and passport scan probably should not receive identical treatment.

Yet that is what can happen when everything lands in the same cloud storage account. 

Your files may be protected by your Microsoft account, but an unlocked computer, shared device, or compromised session can still create an opportunity for someone to see more than you intended.

Here’s a Cool Tip: Move your most sensitive documents into Personal Vault, then lock it as soon as you finish using them.

OneDrive Personal Vault adds another checkpoint. 

Before opening the protected folder, you must verify your identity using an available method such as a fingerprint, face, PIN, Microsoft Authenticator code, email code, or text message. 

The vault also locks after inactivity, so its contents do not remain indefinitely accessible.

This is not a separate storage service or a replacement for good account security. 

It is a protected area inside a personal OneDrive account, designed for files that deserve more care.

Speed Up Windows 11: 3 Easy Ways to Disable Startup Apps

Speed Up Windows 11: 3 Easy Ways to Disable Startup Apps

Too many startup apps can slow down your PC before you even begin working. Here are three simple ways to stop unnecessary programs from launching automatically in Windows 11 and improve startup performance.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

August 26, 2026

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You turn on your PC expecting to get to work, but Windows spends the next few minutes launching apps you didn't even open. 

If your computer feels sluggish immediately after sign-in, startup programs may be the reason.

Many applications automatically configure themselves to launch whenever you log into Windows. 

While some are genuinely helpful, others consume memory, processor resources, and storage activity before you've even opened a browser.

Here's a Cool Tip: Disable high-impact startup apps you rarely use.

Startup applications can affect both startup speed and overall system performance. 

By managing which apps launch automatically, you can reduce unnecessary background activity and create a cleaner, faster experience.

The good news is that Windows 11 includes several built-in tools that make startup management easy.

5 Hidden Windows 11 Features That Save Time Every Day

5 Hidden Windows 11 Features That Save Time Every Day

Windows 11 includes several built-in tools that can make everyday tasks faster, cleaner, and less frustrating. These five overlooked features help you copy smarter, organize your screen, capture better screenshots, focus longer, and reach system tools quickly.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

August 12, 2026

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If you use Windows all day, you probably spend more time than you realize switching between apps, copying bits of text, grabbing screenshots, and digging through settings. 

The good news is that Windows 11 already includes several tools that make these little tasks easier.

Here's a Cool Tip:  Learn These Five Windows Shortcuts and Put Windows 11 to Work.

The catch? 

Many of them are hidden behind keyboard shortcuts, tucked inside system apps, or sitting in menus most users rarely open.

None of these tips requires extra software or a paid subscription. Most take just a few seconds to learn.

Windows 11 Screen Tint Makes Bright Screens Easier on the Eyes

Windows 11 Screen Tint Makes Bright Screens Easier on the Eyes

Bright screens are not always a brightness problem. Sometimes the intensity of modern apps, websites, and documents is what leaves your eyes feeling tired after a long day.

Windows 11's new Screen Tint accessibility feature offers another way to improve screen comfort by applying a customizable color overlay across the entire display. Availability may vary depending on your Windows version and rollout status.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

July 29, 2026

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After eight hours of email, spreadsheets, Teams meetings, web browsing, and document editing, many people reach for the brightness controls. 

The problem is that brightness is not always what's causing the discomfort.

Here's a Cool Tip: Customize your screen's comfort level with Screen Tint.

Microsoft's new Screen Tint feature for Windows 11 takes a different approach. Instead of simply dimming the display, it adds a customizable color overlay designed to make bright screens feel less visually intense during long work sessions. 

The feature is intended to help users who experience eye fatigue, light sensitivity, or general visual discomfort from bright displays.

Screen Tint joins other Windows accessibility tools designed to make computing more comfortable, but it fills a unique gap between Night Light and Color Filters.

Windows 11's New Point-in-Time Restore Can Save Hours of Recovery

Windows 11's New Point-in-Time Restore Can Save Hours of Recovery

Windows 11's new Point-in-Time Restore feature can help you recover from bad updates, driver problems, and software mistakes without rebuilding an entire PC. If something breaks, you may be able to roll back to a previous working state in minutes instead of spending hours troubleshooting.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

July 15, 2026

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One bad driver update or software installation can turn a perfectly good PC into a troubleshooting project.

For years, Windows users have relied on backups, system images, or the aging System Restore feature when something went wrong. 

Here's a Cool Tip: Update Windows with the July 2026 Update for Point-in-Time Restore.

Microsoft is now introducing a more modern recovery approach called Point-in-Time Restore, a built-in Windows 11 capability designed to help users recover from software problems more quickly.

Point-in-Time Restore can restore apps, settings, and local user files captured in an available restore point. 

The goal is simple: reduce downtime and help users recover from problems without resorting to a full reinstall.

3 Smart Windows 11 Printer Tricks That Save Time and Ink

3 Smart Windows 11 Printer Tricks That Save Time and Ink

Printing mistakes and repetitive settings can quietly waste time, ink, and paper. These three Windows 11 printer tips help you take control and keep things running smoothly.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

June 17, 2026

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You only meant to print one page, but the printer starts churning through an entire document in full color.

That’s a quick way to burn through ink and patience.

Here’s a Cool Tip: Take Control of Printing Before It Wastes Your Time and Money.

Windows 11 includes useful printer tools most people never touch.

Once you know where they are, you can stop mistakes instantly, automate your settings, and manage printers with far more control.

Find Files Faster: Windows 11 Search Finally Gets Smarter

Find Files Faster: Windows 11 Search Finally Gets Smarter

Windows 11 Search has long been a frustration point, but the June 2026 update addresses some of its biggest weaknesses. These changes make finding files faster, easier, and far less dependent on typing the exact file name.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

June 10, 2026

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You know the routine. 

You open Search, type part of a file name, and nothing appears. 

So you type more. 

Then more. 

At some point, it is faster to open File Explorer and hunt manually.

Here’s a Cool Tip: Find files faster with fewer keystrokes

Microsoft finally seems to be fixing that experience.

The June 2026 Windows 11 update introduces meaningful improvements to Search performance and accuracy. 

The changes are subtle, but they show up quickly in everyday use.

Turn Simple Notes Into Organized Lists in Notepad

Turn Simple Notes Into Organized Lists in Notepad

Windows Notepad is evolving from a plain-text tool into a lightweight Markdown editor. New support for Strikethrough and Nested Lists makes everyday notes easier to organize and manage.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

June 3, 2026

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Notepad has always been the simplest app on Windows. 

Open it, type something, close it, done. 

No formatting, no structure, no distractions.

That simplicity worked until you needed to organize anything more complex than a short list. 

Project notes, task lists, outlines, even grocery planning quickly turned messy.

Here’s a Cool Tip: Use Notepad like a Structured Note-Taking Tool. 

With recent updates, Notepad is starting to behave more like a lightweight Markdown editor, including support for strikethrough text and properly nested lists.

Windows 11’s New Start App Views: Find Any App In Two Clicks Or Less

Windows 11’s New Start App Views: Find Any App In Two Clicks Or Less

The Windows 11 Start menu just learned a few new tricks that quietly fix years of everyday annoyances. If you have too many apps and not enough patience, the new Start app views might be the most useful change you see all year.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

May 6, 2026

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How many times a day do you open the Start menu, stare at a wall of icons, and still not find the app you need? 

Here's a Cool Tip:  Check the New Start Menu.

Windows 11’s refreshed Start menu in versions 24H2 and 25H2 tackles that exact problem by turning the old, split layout into a single, smarter app launcher with multiple ways to browse.

Instead of bouncing between Pinned, All apps, and Recommended, you now get one continuous surface with new Category, Grid, and List views for your apps. 

The result feels more like a modern phone launcher: scroll, tap, done.

Stop Losing Tabs: How Microsoft Edge Tab Search Keeps You On Track

Stop Losing Tabs: How Microsoft Edge Tab Search Keeps You On Track

Find any open or recently closed tab in seconds and rescue your focus from tab overload. If you live with dozens of tabs, this feature can feel like a superpower.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

April 29, 2026

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How many tabs do you have open right now, and how many can you actually find? 

For most people, the browser has become a cluttered desk where important pages hide behind a wall of tiny icons.

Microsoft Edge’s Tab Search feature solves that problem. 

Instead of scanning multiple windows or guessing where a page went, you type a keyword, see every matching tab, and jump straight back to work. 

It is a small feature that delivers a surprising productivity boost.

Freeform Rotate Comes To Windows Paint: A Tiny Button With Big Creative Power

Freeform Rotate Comes To Windows Paint: A Tiny Button With Big Creative Power

Freeform Rotate is finally arriving in the classic Windows Paint app, and it quietly fixes a decades-old annoyance. If you sketch, annotate screenshots, or mock up ideas in Paint, this one control can save you time and make your work look more polished.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

March 10, 2026

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Have you ever tried to tilt a logo or straighten a pasted screenshot in Paint, only to give up because it only rotated in 90-degree chunks? 

That friction has been part of Windows life for years.

Here's a Cool Tip:  Rotate Objects in Microsoft Paint.

Microsoft is rolling out a Freeform Rotate feature in Paint that lets you rotate shapes, text, and selections to any angle. 

It is a small change that makes Paint feel less like a toy and more like a lightweight layout tool for everyday work.

Windows 11 Adds a One Click Internet Speed Test in the Taskbar

Windows 11 Adds a One Click Internet Speed Test in the Taskbar

Windows 11 now includes a built-in shortcut that lets you check your internet speed directly from the taskbar. It is a small change that saves time when troubleshooting slow connections.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor  

March 4, 2026

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Slow Wi-Fi can ruin a video call or stall a download at the worst possible moment. 

Most people jump to a browser and search for a speed test, but that takes extra steps when you are already frustrated. 

Here's a Cool Tip:  Use the New Internet Speed Test in the Taskbar.

Microsoft quietly added a new shortcut in Windows 11 that puts a speed test one click away. 

It is simple, fast, and surprisingly useful for both home users and busy professionals.

Extract Text from Any Image with the Windows Photos App

Extract Text from Any Image with the Windows Photos App

Windows 11 hides a powerful OCR tool inside the Photos app that instantly pulls text from images. If you take screenshots, snap whiteboards, or store receipts as photos, this feature can save you hours of retyping.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

February 25, 2026

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Have you ever stared at a screenshot and thought, “I just need that one paragraph”? 

Maybe it was a Wi-Fi password, a quote from a PDF, or handwritten notes from a meeting. 

Traditionally, that meant retyping everything or installing a third-party OCR tool.

Here's a Cool Tip:  Use Windows Photos App to Extract Text.

Windows 11 now includes built-in text recognition inside the Photos app. 

It works quietly in the background and makes text selectable and copyable directly from your images. 

No subscription. 

No browser extension. 

No scanning app required.

For business users, and home users alike, this is one of those practical upgrades that removes friction from daily work.

Feature Explanation

What it is:

• The Windows Photos app in Windows 11 includes optical character recognition, or OCR, that detects text inside images and allows you to copy it.

How it works:

• When you open an image in Photos, the app analyzes the image for recognizable characters. If text is detected, a “Copy text” or “Scan text” option appears. You can select specific lines or copy all detected text.

Why it matters:

• Screenshots, scanned contracts, printed forms, whiteboards, and even photographed documents become searchable and editable. This eliminates retyping and reduces errors.