Monday, September 28, 2026

MS_Tips Tricks & Info_2026SEP29

 


Microsoft Tips, Tricks & Info


2026SEP29


Table of Contents / Source:

My favorite Windows app makes moving to a new PC so easy – and it’s free - zdnet.com
Quick tip: How to make Windows 11 apps always open maximized - neowin.net
Microsoft confirms first major Windows event in two years, but don’t hold your breath for Windows 12 - windowslatest.com
Windows 11 26H2 releases any day now, and here’s who gets it and when - windowslatest.com
4 powerful Windows features most people never turn on - howtogeek.com
October 2026 Office Changes: Publisher Dies, Office 2021 Support Ends - officewatch.com
iPhone Duo vs. Pixel 11 Pro Fold: I’ve used both, and it’s not open and shut - zdnet.com
FCC Hits Pause On Verizon's Copper Landline Retirement Plan For Now - pcmag.com
I Got Fed Up With Streaming Price Hikes, So I Built My Own 'Netflix' for $0 - pcmag.com
The Best Early Prime Day Tech Deals From Apple, Garmin, Microsoft, Sony, and More - pcmag.com


My favorite Windows app makes moving to a new PC so easy – and it’s free

You just replaced your old PC with a shiny new one, running Windows 11. Now what?
My goal with this checklist is to help you migrate your files, apps, settings, and credentials quickly and completely.


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Quick tip: How to make Windows 11 apps always open maximized

You can force every supported app in Windows 11 to always open maximized by adjusting the accessibility settings.


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Microsoft confirms first major Windows event in two years, but don’t hold your breath for Windows 12

Microsoft will hold a Windows and Surface event in San Francisco on October 7, 2026, at 10 AM PT (1 PM ET), its first major Windows event since May 2024.  We expect to hear more information about the Surface Laptop Ultra, the NVIDIA RTX Spark chip powering it, and the PC ecosystem built around local AI.


Further reading:

  • Microsoft announces new Surface Pro and Surface Laptop devices powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 Plus chip — and this could be its best shot at taking on Apple’s MacBook Air - techradar.com

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Windows 11 26H2 releases any day now, and here’s who gets it and when

Windows 11 26H2’s public rollout could begin any day, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it rolls out during the week of September 28 or the following week (early October). But it’s not an update you should be excited about unless you care about the Windows lifecycle or you’ve been planning a fresh install (clean install), in which case 26H2 is the right time to do it.


Further reading:

  • Windows 11 26H2: Release Date, Features, Supported PCs, and Upgrade Guide - windowscentral.com
  • Windows 11 version 26H2: What you need to know about Microsoft's imminent feature update for your PC - windowscentral.com
  • I tested Windows 11 26H2, so you don’t have to. Here’s everything I found. - windowslatest.com
    
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4 powerful Windows features most people never turn on

Four built-in features I enable immediately because they make Windows smoother, clearer, and less frustrating to use day to day. No third-party apps. No deep tweaks. Just a few switches worth flipping.



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October 2026 Office Changes: Publisher Dies, Office 2021 Support Ends

Publisher 365 stops working on October 1, 2026, and that is just the first of eight October 2026 Office changes.



Further reading:

  • Microsoft killing an Office app you’ve used for decades - thestreet.com
  • Microsoft is retiring some key 365 companion apps — Calendar, People, and Files services all set to be cut - techradar.com

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iPhone Duo vs. Pixel 11 Pro Fold: I’ve used both, and it’s not open and shut

Apple and Google’s flagship foldables have just as many differences as similarities. Still, here's how to choose.


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FCC Hits Pause On Verizon's Copper Landline Retirement Plan For Now

The FCC declined to automatically grant Verizon's application when consumers, groups and even a lawmaker have been raising concerns about remote communities losing their phone service.


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I Got Fed Up With Streaming Price Hikes, So I Built My Own 'Netflix' for $0

Video streaming services keep raising prices, but that doesn't mean you have to keep paying more. If you want your favorite shows and movies without the fees, build your own local media library with Plex.


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The Best Early Prime Day Tech Deals From Apple, Garmin, Microsoft, Sony, and More

There's one more major shopping spree to look forward to before the holidays: Amazon's Big Deal Days. Here at PCMag, we're rounding up only the very best early tech deals just for you.


Further reading:

  • You Don't Have to Pay $139 to Shop Amazon's Fall Prime Day. Here's How to Do It for Less - pcmag.com
  • Best October Prime Day deals under $25: Top deals on cheap gadgets we’ve tested - zdnet.com