Windows 11 Build 25252 comes a new search box in the taskbar. You can now choose between the default search icon and the good old classic search box via a new option in Settings. Even more, there can be an additional "search button" option. If you select, the Start menu's own search box will be hidden.

When you click the search box in the Windows 11 taskbar, it allows you to directly type a search term. While it still opens the search pane, it doesn't redirect your input to its own input area. Instead it shows what matches your terms as you type. Also, the new UI includes search highlights.

By default the new UI options are hidden, here's how to enable them.

1) Download ViveTool and extract its ZIP archive to the c:\vivetool folder.
2) Open Terminal as Admin
3) Run these commands. The command #1 is mandatory, the other two add extra bloat features.

c:\vivetool\vivetool /enable /id:38937525 - enables the new Search experience.
c:\vivetool\vivetool /enable /id:40887771 - adds search highlights to the search box.
c:\vivetool\vivetool /enable /id:41415839 - allows hiding the Start menu search line.

4) Restart Windows 11, open Settings (Win + I) and go to Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar Items. Select "Search box" or "Search button" to test the new UI.

👉 More details https://winaero.com/how-to-enable-new-taskbar-search-in-windows-11-build-25252/

☝️ Besides, Microsoft has released new preview builds of Windows 11 (version 22H2), 22621.1020 and 22623.1020 (KB5020035) to Insiders on the Beta channel. Build 22623.1020 supports new features, such as new Braille displays in Narrator. Both builds include Windows Spotlight with Themes, Microsoft OneDrive subscription options in Settings, OneDrive out-of-storage alerts, and some "organizational messages feature".

🌍 Official announcement

Microsoft has confirmed a new bug in Windows 11 2022 Update. When the user switches input modes using keyboard shortcuts, certain apps may hang. As a workaround, Microsoft suggests switching input modes using the icon in the tasbkar by clicking it. Alternatively, you can install the most recent optional update KB5020044 that contains a fix. But keep in mind that the patch is still in Preview.

The bug is in the Text Services Framework (TSF) component. Luckily, only some specific apps use it. So the majority of software will work properly.

🌍 https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-health/status-windows-11-22h2#2947msgdesc

Microsoft has fixed slow file copy bug in Windows 11 22H2. According to a thread on the techcommunity website, it is not related to any network component of Windows 11. The speed drops somewhere in the OS kernel, so initial guesses that it is an SMB bug are incorrect.

It is now documented in the know issues section for KB5017389, where you will find recommendations that may help you to improve the copy speed.

The latest Insider Preview of Windows 11, build 25252 released to the Dev channel, includes the appropriate fix. So if you are Dev channel insider, the bug is now resolved for you.

But it is not yet available in the stable, Beta and Release Preview channels. The majority of users who run the stable version of Windows 11 will get the fix with forthcoming cumulative updates. Microsoft says they need to validate it.

👉 https://winaero.com/microsoft-has-fixed-slow-file-copy-bug-in-windows-11-22h2/

Snipping Tool with Video Recording Support

Microsoft is now testing a new version of the Snipping Tool 11.2211.35.0 for Windows 11. In addition to screenshots, it comes the ability to record video from the screen. The update is currently only available to Insiders on the Dev channel. Interested users can download and install the updated app package above, or download it from Microsoft by following the steps in the linked post.

December 2022 Cumulative updates for Windows 11 and 10

TL;DR: Windows 11 has got fixes for Task Manager and DPAPI. Windows 10 updates will unpin Cortana from the taskbar, includes fixes for printing, Store, DST, Search, and more. Both OSes received security fixes.

Links

Windows 11 (version 22H2) - KB5021255 (OS Build 22621.963). Microsoft Update Catalog link.
Windows 11 (version 21H2) - KB5021234 (OS Build 22000.1335). Microsoft Update Catalog link.
————-
Windows 10 2022 Update (version 22H2) - KB5021233 (OS Build 19045.2364). Microsoft Update Catalog link.
Windows 10 November 2021 Update (version 21H2) - same patch as above.
Windows 10 May 2021 Update (version 21H1) - same patch as above.
Windows 10 October 2020 Update (version 20H2) - same patch as above.
Windows 10 October 2018 Update (version 1809) - KB5021237 (OS Build 17763.3770). Microsoft Update Catalog link.

Microsoft is rolling out an updated Widgets pane to stable Windows 11. The change will reach both 21H2 and 22H2 versions of the OS, but it is a gradual roll-out. Some of us may not see it right now.

There are two key changes:
- Widgets now have a header. It looks quite different from what Microsoft was showing earlier.
- Widgets can now work with a local account. No Microsoft Account required to use them.

Windows 10 version 21H1 has reached end of servicing. Yesterday's patches were last available for this OS version. Windows Update will automatically initiate a feature update for devices running Home and Pro (non-domain joined) editions of Windows 10, version 21H1 that are reaching end of servicing.

The latest version of Windows 10 (and the last one) is 22H2, "Windows 10 2022 Update". To get it installed manually, open Settings (Win + I), select Update & Security > Windows Update and click the "Check for updates" button. Eligible devices will also see the offer to install Windows 11, version 22H2.

Microsoft has released Windows 11 build 25267 to Windows Insiders in the Dev channel. It includes new styling options for Search on the taskbar, and several important fixes. The file copy performance bug has been resolved, as well as media casting crashes, and more. This is the last build for the Dev channel before the upcoming holidays. Insider builds will resume in January 2023.

The official announcement is here.

Windows 11 will get new features twice in the first half of 2023

Starting with version 22H2, Microsoft updates Windows 11 with frequent portions of new features internally called "Moments". For example, the "Moment 1" update has included tabs in File Explorer, Suggested Actions, and more. Its successor, the Moment 2 update features, are in testing among Insiders and are slated for the release in February or March 2023. Finally, in the spring of 2023 there will be another set of features called "Moment 3" and it will appear sometime in May. It is referred as next Windows "Continuous Innovations" . But at this time, there is no information what exactly it will include.

https://winaero.com/windows-11-will-get-new-features-twice-in-the-first-half-of-2023/

Windows 11 Build 25267 comes with a new Windows Firewall dialog that appears when a program tries to serve as a network service on your computer. The new dialog has a new design to match Windows 11, respects light/dark mode and also dims the rest of the screen slightly like the UAC prompt. The former one was first introduced in Vista and survived over these years without significant changes.

Microsoft Edge update will disable Internet Explorer on February 14, 2023. Originally planned as a Windows Update patch, it will now be an update for the browser that will permanently stop IE from working. Microsoft says that anyone using IE should migrate to Edge right now, including customers.

Tomorrow, January 10, 2023, Microsoft will end extended support for Windows 8.1. The OS itself won't stop working immediately, but apps and drivers will stop getting updates. So new devices and several websites may stop working if you remain on Windows 8.1. Microsoft will not be offering an Extended Security Update (ESU) program for Windows 8.1.
Also, the release of paid security updates for Windows 7 through the ESU program is also ending tomorrow.

https://winaero.com/support-for-windows-8-1-is-ending-tomorrow/

Without a fanfare, Microsoft added Secure Boot support to Windows 7 in September 2022. The company supports the OS for companies that pay for ESU, so this could be per their request.

Microsoft initially stated that paid cumulative updates for Windows 7 would only fix discovered security vulnerabilities, so there should not be any new features in them. However, near the end of the life cycle, this has been silently changed. The September 2022 update added support for Secure Boot to Windows 7.

It is not known why this happened a few months before the final end of support. In the change logs from Microsoft, the addition of the Secure Boot support is also not mentioned.

Microsoft is once again updating the built-in File Explorer app in Windows 11. The app will get a new Home page and the left pane, along with new views and closer Microsoft 365 integration.

There are references to a modern Home page and a new sidebar. These elements will utilize XAML and WinUI and follow Fluent Design. There are also references to new File Explorer features. There are new panes, such as "Activities", "Conversations", "Shared Status", and "Insights" panels. Perhaps they are related to Microsoft 365.

The recently discovered Gallery folder is also receiving a portion of updates, with tiles that are placeholders for images and groups of images.