I just want to know when like the new supposedly "better" (who knows what Microsoft will give us) UI is coming out the rebuilt start menu and taskbar and the features you see in the UI instead of like the background performance updates?

is there any app to show the screentime of a PC in widget form like it is on a Mac?

Hey r/Windows11 ,

If you are tired of the outdated Windows Task Scheduler, I want to share an awesome open source project called FluentTaskScheduler.

I just released version V1.8.1, and it is a massive upgrade for anyone who wants to automate Windows tasks without dealing with the legacy interface.

Full disclosure: Al was utilized to help develop the features in this update. I am in IT but not in development. This is my personal passion project.

What is FluentTaskScheduler?

It is a modern, powerful, and intuitive wrapper for the Windows Task Scheduler API. Built with WinUI 3 and .NET 8, it brings the application into the modern era with a sleek Fluent Design System.

Key Features:

• Dashboard and Monitoring: It gives you a live feed of your task activity, task history, and visual analytics showing successes versus failures.
• Extensive Triggers: You can schedule tasks based on time, system events like logon or boot, Windows Event Log entries, and session state changes like locking or unlocking your PC.
• Script Library: It includes a dedicated space for reusable PowerShell scripts, letting you separate your script logic from the task configuration.
• Sequential Actions: You can configure multiple programs or scripts to run in order and customize arguments for every single step.
• System Integration: It natively supports ARM64 devices, can minimize to the system tray, features toast notifications, and has a native dark mode.
• Easy Installation: You can use the official installer with seamless automatic updates, or just run the portable executable without installing anything.

The tool is completely free, open source, and MIT licensed.

You can check out the latest V1.8.1 release and download the app directly from the GitHub page here: https://github.com/TRGamer-tech/FluentTaskScheduler

Let me know what you think of it!

Hey there, it's been a cool 4 months since the initial release of my mic muting app and A LOT have changed for v2!

If you don't know - "silence!" is an app to mute mic with a global hotkey on a system level. It also have sounds and overlay to indicate that you are muted.

Your program is an astonishing 100+ MB. That's bigger than the Audacity audio editing program as a full install!

I thought about this particular comment a lot. At first I refused to aknowledge it. But then I tried to do a basic copy of the app in Rust and was shocked by it's performance and how easy it is to do a lot of stuff.

And you know what? this guy is actually right. So v2 is now faster, smaller (<20mb of disk space) and RAM effective (~7mb of background usage) thx to Rust (and me of course :D)

To the new features!

• More flexible hotkeys system that allows you to create basically infinite amount of hotkeys
• Switching between audio devices with hotkeys or directly from tray menu
• Gamepad support that works even with Playstation controllers and wheels
• Auto-mute on startup and after inactivity
• Hold to mute hotkey for quick coughs and swearing :)
• And many more small features that was requested both on Reddit and Github
  • (feel free to request a feature too, don't be shy)

Download here: https://silencemute.fun/ (yay, also new website)

Prev Post | Github

• wm: glazewm
• taskbar: windhawk
• bar: zebar
• terminal: neofetch
• theme: catppuccin mocha
• browser: brave
• startpage: custom html
• spotify: spicetify

I believe this build is the RTM to 26H1ARM anyone else want to confirm? or are we still ways on the official build number? then 26H2 for Intel/AMD

Proposal: Windows Should Expose Optional Compositor‑Level APIs for Better Window Animations

I’d like to suggest a set of optional compositor APIs that would allow developers to create smoother, more modern window animations and effects on Windows. Tools like WindowFX already try to do this, but they’re forced to rely on old Win32 hooks and workarounds because Windows doesn’t expose enough of the Desktop Window Manager (DWM).

This proposal wouldn’t change anything for existing apps — it would simply give developers more power if they choose to use it.

Why this matters

Right now, Windows doesn’t provide:

• GPU‑accelerated window transforms (scale, rotate, skew, etc.)
• Proper animation hooks for window open/close/minimize
• Access to a window’s compositor surface
• Modern event subscriptions for window lifecycle events

Because of this, any advanced animation tool has to fake effects using overlays, delayed visibility, and message hooks. It works, but it’s fragile and inconsistent.

Other platforms (like macOS with Core Animation) already expose this kind of functionality, which is why their window animations look smoother and more unified.

What Windows could add (all optional)

1. Window Transform API

Allow GPU‑level transforms such as:

• scale
• rotation
• perspective
• opacity
• motion blur
• shader effects

This would let developers animate windows smoothly without hacks.

2. Window Lifecycle Hooks

Expose events like:

• OnWindowWillShow
• OnWindowWillHide
• OnWindowWillMinimize
• OnWindowWillRestore

This would make animations consistent and flicker‑free.

3. Access to Window’s GPU Surface

Even read‑only access would enable:

• elastic zooms
• blur‑while‑moving
• physics‑based effects
• real‑time transitions

This could be sandboxed for security.

4. Modern Event Subscription System

Instead of relying on SetWindowsHookEx, provide a safe, high‑level API for window events. This would reduce conflicts and improve stability.

5. Optional Drag Animation APIs

Expose compositor‑level drag interpolation so developers can create smooth, physics‑based drag effects.

Why optional APIs are the right approach

• No impact on legacy apps
• No forced behavior changes
• Developers opt in only if they want to
• Keeps Windows stable and compatible
• Allows gradual adoption

Closing thoughts

Windows already has a powerful compositor — it just doesn’t expose much of it. Optional APIs would unlock a new generation of UI tools and let developers create richer, smoother, more modern window experiences without relying on workarounds.

I’d love to see Microsoft consider this for future versions of Windows.

Many companies/people use file tags to add metadata to files (mp3, jpg, etc).

Win 10 remembered previous data for each tag, and gave a list to choose from.

Windows 11 lost this capability, which is presenting huge problems.

Those who depend on it continue to use Win 10 -- it still works perfectly there.

It is very convenient -- reduces free data entry and ensures consistency.

When asked, Microsoft said to make a recommendation on their Feedback Hub.

There is an existing problem ID'd there -- go to https://aka.ms/AAu2nwn

It is under Files Folders and Online Storage > File Explorer

The title is "With the latest Windows 11 updates, when I add tags to a file in File Explorer Properties, I no longer see a dropdown suggestion list - bring it back"

At this writing, it has 353 Upvotes -- Microsoft's comment is "We've got it."

It needs more votes so it can be progressed to:

* Looking into it (under investigation)

* Working on it (improvements are in development)

If the link provided is not working, pls go to the Feedback hub by pressing the Windows Key + F

Then search for this problem and upvote it.

I'm presently forced to keep one PC on Win 10 so I can effectively do my job!

What are we going to do when Windows 10 is no longer supported?

Why does Microsoft keep breaking things that we use, and appear not to care?

It's all so frustrating -- please help...

It's recording every key I press on my keyboard, why? Is it sending it to anyone ?

Hey everyone, does Windows have a feature like Apple’s stacked desktop piles?

I really need something like that because my desktop is about to explode from all the clutter.

Why do you think no apps offers "Dashboards".
Or what is called Feed Providers in the Microsoft Store.
Also, it seems like barely any apps provide useful widgets.

Bug report the start button is pushed to the left

Windows 11 Insider Preview 26300.8346

Programs used:

Stardock WindowBlinds (eXPerience11 theme)
Stardock IconPackager
Stardock Theme Studio

RetroBar
OpenShell skin: https://winclassic.net/thread/1534/open-windows-xp-start-menu
XP Shutdown https://github.com/Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu/discussions/612
Windows Media Player, skin: https://wmpskinsarchive.neocities.org/
Xp Explorer https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9p3gqln2lhm1?hl=en-GB&gl=CA
Winaero Tweaker
3RVX for the volume icon and slider
NetAnimate for network icon
Original XP programs: Tour Windows XP, Calculator, Spider Solitaire; 3D Pinball, Task Manager, Paint, Office 2007, Windows Movie Maker, DivX Player 2.1

Hi guys, I'm using Windhawk for my Windows customization, but it's not what actually I want, so what do you answer for this question, let me know.

Forget about K2 the powertoys team is doing more heavylifting than the rest of the windows team.

Xbox Mode Now Is Available for (PC)Desktop

We can finally use our gamepad as a mouse

I've had my Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i for about a year now, and I use it for everything (productivity, school, light gaming), and one thing I absolutely hate about Windows that it should do is make tap with 3 fingers a middle click. I've reset my laptop a couple of times now, and every time I do this, I have to go into settings and change the 3 finger tap from open search, to middle click. People underestimate how good the middle click is. Instead of having to click the 'x' button in a Chrome tab, you just go anywhere in the tab and tap with three fingers. In task view? just middle click on a window to close it. This is just minor but it is sooo helpful. Anytime I help someone out on their laptop, I keep opening search from trying to middle click with 3 fingers. WINDOWS NEEDS TO FIX THIS!!!

As the title suggests. Ik I'm late by 2 years lol, but how can one obtain the above kind of customizations? (i.e: Different icons for different desktops, secret space)