Microsoft’s head of Windows and Devices, Panos Panay, teased a new feature coming to Windows 11 called “Focus Sessions,” which is meant to help users focus and get work done while listening to their favorite Spotify playlist. Starting August 2021, Windows 10 is enabling a new layer of security to protect users automatically from Potentially Unwanted Applications (PUA), which are low-reputation apps that are not malware but can affect performance, display malicious ads, and can install harmful programs. This week, Microsoft also said that it will try to make it impossible to bypass the hardware requirements to install Windows 11 on incompatible devices. Also, as part of the July 2021 maintenance rollout, Surface Laptop 3, Pro 4, and Studio 2 received a new update to address vulnerabilities, improve system stability, reliability, and performance.

Tech tips roundup

This week, you also learned several tips to get the most out of Windows, including the steps to control the “Potentially Unwanted Applications” feature on Windows 10. We looked into the steps to set a static IP address configuration on Windows 10. As part of the preparation for the release of Windows 11 later this year, you now know the steps to perform a clean installation using a USB flash drive, Media Creation Tool, Reset this PC feature, Advanced startup options, and ISO file. In addition, we also looked at the steps to upgrade an existing Windows 10 to Windows 11 using the Insider Program option, ISO file, Windows Update, and Media Creation Tool. You now know the steps to reset your Windows 11 computer to the factory default settings without losing your files using a local image or cloud download. If you need to connect to your device remotely, you can use these steps to enable Remote Desktop on Windows 11. You can check these instructions to learn how to use the new “cleanup recommendations” feature to free up space, change the power modes, and remove featured buttons from the Taskbar. Finally, if you use Microsoft Edge, you can check these steps to try out the new Super Duper Secure Mode that makes the browser more secure by disabling the JavaScript engine and enabling specific mitigations. All content on this site is provided with no warranties, express or implied. Use any information at your own risk. Always backup of your device and files before making any changes. Privacy policy info.