The World of Windows

Accessing Xbox Play Anywhere titles and Game Pass games on Windows 11 is managed directly through the native PC Xbox App and Microsoft Store . 1.Match your Microsoft Store and Xbox App accounts: Prerequisite to avoid license verification errors. Open the Microsoft Store app in Windows 11 and confirm you are signed in with the account that holds your game purchases or Game Pass subscription. Open the Xbox App and sign in with your gaming profile. If your primary gaming account is different from your purchasing account, open Xbox App Settings > Account and link your purchasing account under Store Account . 2.Access and install Xbox Game Pass games: Click the Game Pass tab on the left sidebar of the Xbox App. Browse the PC Game Pass catalog. Select a game and click Install to download it to your storage drive, or select Play with Cloud (requires Game Pass Ultimate) to stream it without downloading. ...

Safari has solidified its position as the world’s second most popular browser, while Firefox continues to decline in market share. Yes, the statement is largely accurate: Safari holds the #2 spot globally (especially strong on mobile), while Firefox continues to lose significant market share across all platforms, dropping from a once dominant position to around 2-3% globally, behind Chrome and often Edge, though Safari's position relative to Edge on desktop can fluctuate. Chrome leads overall, but Safari is second due to iOS/macOS dominance, while Firefox struggles with declining users despite its independent engine. Here’s the latest breakdown of global browser usage in 2025: Global Browser Market Share (2025) Browser Market Share Trend Chrome ~64–65% Stable dominance, still far ahead of competitors Safari ~18–19% Growing, especially strong on iOS/macOS Edge ~5–6% Slowly gaining traction, boosted by Windows integration Firefox ~2–...

In Steam, launch commands and environment variables allow you to adjust how Proton initializes games. They are added under Game Properties > General > Launch Options . The Core Rule: How Syntax Works Every environment variable or wrapper script must be placed before %command% , which acts as a placeholder for the game's actual executable. Bash VARIABLE_NAME=value %command% To use multiple variables at once, simply chain them together with spaces before %command% : Bash SteamDeck=0 PROTON_LOG=1 MANGOHUD=1 %command% Top Environment Variables & Use Cases 1. Bypass "Steam Deck" Locks & Forced Settings Command: SteamDeck=0 %command% What it does: Tricks the game into thinking it is running on a standard PC desktop rather than a Steam Deck. Why use it: Some games automatically lock graphics settings, limit resolution options, or force low-texture presets when they detect a Steam Deck. ...

The most complete and highest-performing web browsers in 2026 are Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Brave, and Opera . Each excels in different areas: Chrome in speed and ecosystem integration, Edge in AI features and Windows synergy, Firefox in privacy and customization, Safari in efficiency on Apple devices, Brave in security and ad-blocking, and Opera in innovation with built-in tools. Top Web Browsers in 2026 Browser Strengths Weaknesses Best For Google Chrome Fast performance, huge extension library, seamless Google integration High memory usage, weaker privacy defaults Users who want speed + Google ecosystem Microsoft Edge Built-in AI assistant, strong Windows integration, excellent performance Limited extensions compared to Chrome Windows users, productivity-focused browsing Mozilla Firefox Open-source, strong privacy tools, customizable Slightly slower than Chrome/Edge Privacy-conscious u...

Installing and managing Proton GE on the Steam Deck is straightforward thanks to ProtonUp-Qt , a graphical manager available directly in KDE Discover. 1.Switch to Desktop Mode: Requires restarting into KDE Plasma desktop. Press the STEAM button on your Deck (or press the physical Power button). Select Power from the menu. Choose Switch to Desktop . 2.Install ProtonUp-Qt from Discover: Ensure your Steam Deck is connected to Wi-Fi. Click the blue shopping bag icon in the bottom taskbar to open the Discover Software Center . Click the search bar in the top-left corner and type ProtonUp-Qt . Select ProtonUp-Qt from the search results and click Install . 3.Download the Latest Proton GE Release: Launch ProtonUp-Qt from your Application Menu (under Utilities or Games ) or directly from Discover. Ensure Steam is selected under the Install for dropdown at the top. Click ...

  Vertical tabs moves your tabs to the side of your window, allowing you to see entire tab titles, easily manage tab groups, and free up vertical space. It’s the perfect setup if you typically have a lot of tabs open at once. To move your tabs, right-click your tab strip and select Show tabs vertically .   Sign and annotate your PDFs Skip downloading and printing when it’s time to sign a PDF. Use the annotation tool to hand-draw your personal signature, complete forms, and highlight lines. Open a PDF and click Annotations . Choose your pen or highlighter style and color. Draw your annotation or signature, and click Save . Autofill your loyalty cards, flight details, and vehicle info Stop digging for details! Chrome now integrates with Google Wallet to quickly and securely autofill more types of information. Loyalty cards: Earn your rewards without the physical card. Vehicle info: Quickly complete forms for insurance quotes, parking...

Change the program used to open email links Waterfox normally uses your operating system’s default mail program to send an email message. This article explains how you can change the program that is launched when you click on: The Email link menu item in the Waterfox Menu bar File menu (if the Menu bar is enabled ). The Email link toolbar button (if you customize Waterfox controls, buttons and toolbars ). The Email Image… (right-click) context menu item for an image on a web page. A “mailto” or email link on a web page (such as email@example.com ). Setting the mail client used by Waterfox Click the menu button and select Settings. In the General panel, go to the Applications section. Search for the Content Type mailto and select it. Click on the Action column in the mailto row to change the action. Always ask will prompt you each time you use a mail function for whi...

While Valve’s official Proton handles the vast majority of Steam games out of the box, community-driven forks like Proton GE (short for GloriousEggroll , maintained by Red Hat engineer Thomas Crider) serve as the bleeding-edge "troubleshooter" tool for Linux and Steam Deck gaming. To understand how Proton GE works, it helps to know why Valve’s official Proton leaves certain fixes on the table. Why Custom Proton Builds Exist Valve is a commercial enterprise subject to strict software patent laws, licensing agreements, and long-term stability testing. Official Proton releases (including Proton Stable and Proton Experimental ) are kept conservative to avoid introducing bugs into games that already work well. By contrast, Proton GE is an unofficial, community-maintained fork . Because it is distributed as a third-party open-source project by an individual rather than a corporate entity, it can bundle experimental code, community patches, and third-party media codecs t...

Change the fonts and colors websites use This article describes how to customize the way you see web pages by choosing your preferred font styles and colors. Changing Font To change the font: Click the menu button and select Settings. In the General panel, go down to Language and Appearance . Under Fonts and Colors , use the drop-down menus to select the font and font size of your choice. Close the about:preferences page. Any changes you’ve made will automatically be saved. Custom Fonts Some websites have custom fonts; to disable them: Click the menu button and select Settings. In the General panel, go down to Language and Appearance . Under Fonts and Colors , click the Advanced… button. In the Fonts dialog that opens, uncheck Allow pages to choose their own fonts, instead of your selections above. Click OK to close the Fonts window. Close the about:preferences page. Any changes you’ve made will automatically be saved. Other se...

To answer this accurately, it helps to clear up a common distinction first: Steam and Windows aren't direct competitors—they exist on different levels. Windows is an operating system (OS). Steam is a digital storefront, community platform, and game launcher that runs on Windows (as well as Linux and macOS). Because virtually every game on Steam is built to run on Windows, Windows as an overall platform naturally has every Steam game, plus thousands more available through other storefronts (like Epic Games Store, GOG, itch.io, or standalone launchers like Riot/Battle.net). However, if we compare the Steam Store directly against Microsoft’s built-in Windows gaming ecosystem (the Microsoft Store & PC Game Pass) , the dynamic becomes much more interesting. 1. Quantity: Steam is the Undisputed Heavyweight When comparing catalog sizes directly between stores, Steam overwhelmingly dominates Microsoft's native storefront. Steam Sto...

Windows 11 marks a bold new era for Microsoft, defined by deep integration of artificial intelligence, a redesigned user experience, and a vision of the operating system as a true “AI canvas.” Key Highlights of Windows 11’s New Era AI at the Core Microsoft is embedding intelligence directly into the operating system, hardware, and silicon. This means features like Copilot integration , predictive security tools, and adaptive system behavior are now native to Windows 11. Reimagined Start Menu & AI Agent The Start menu has been redesigned to be more AI-driven , offering personalized recommendations and contextual shortcuts. A dedicated Windows AI agent acts as a companion across apps and workflows. Smart App Control Leveraging predictive AI, Windows 11 can determine which apps are safe to run, enhancing security without slowing down productivity. 40 Years of Windows, Future-Focused At Microsoft Ignite 2025, the company celebrate...

Comparing gaming on the Steam Deck (SteamOS / Linux via Proton) against Native Windows comes down to a core trade-off: SteamOS provides a optimized, low-overhead console experience , whereas Windows delivers universal compatibility with non-Steam ecosystems and anti-cheat software. 1. Performance: Efficiency vs. Overhead Because the Steam Deck operates on a custom low-power AMD APU (typically 15W TDP), operating system efficiency drastically impacts frame rates and battery life. Lower System Overhead: SteamOS runs a lightweight Linux environment without the background telemetry, indexing, and bloatware inherent to Windows 11. At lower wattage thresholds (9–15W), games running on SteamOS often match or slightly exceed Windows performance per watt. Pre-Compiled Shader Caches: On Windows, games frequently stutter when compiling graphics shaders on the fly (especially Unreal Engine titles). On SteamOS, Valve automatically pre-compiles shader caches for the S...

If you can’t access the Add-ons Manager or if the option to remove a certain add-on is disabled, you may need to uninstall it from Waterfox Troubleshoot Mode . Click the menu button , click Help, select Troubleshoot Mode… and click Restart in the Restart Waterfox in Troubleshoot Mode? dialog. Info You can also start Waterfox in Troubleshoot Mode by holding down the Shift key while starting Waterfox. 2. In the Waterfox Troubleshoot Mode dialog, click Open. Once Waterfox has started in Troubleshoot Mode, try removing the add-on again and then restarting Waterfox. Uninstalling add-ons from the Windows Control Panel Some add-ons are installed by other programs. You may be able to remove the add-on from the Windows Control Panel or Settings page. See Microsoft’s article, Windows 7 – How to properly uninstall programs . See this Microsoft Community post for more help. See Microsoft’s article, Repair or remove programs in Windows 10 . ...

  Microsoft’s official Xbox Backward Compatibility program on PC takes a fundamentally different engineering approach compared to community open-source emulators like Xemu (Original Xbox) and Xenia (Xbox 360). Rather than building a standalone, clean-room emulator from scratch, Microsoft ported its battle-tested console virtualization stack directly to Windows 11. Architecture & Execution Stack 1. The Official Microsoft Stack (Nested Hypervisor Approach) Microsoft's PC layer utilizes a nested emulation architecture (often called an "emulator inside an emulator"): Host Emulator ( XeO3 / Fission ): Microsoft ported its internal Xbox 360 emulator—originally written for Xbox One and Series X|S—to modern x86-64 Windows, adapting its graphics renderer to native Direct3D 12 . Nested OG Xbox Layer ( XeFu / Fusion ): When launching an Original Xbox title, XeO3 boots XeFu , the legacy OG Xbox emulator Microsoft created for the Xbox 360 ...

Yes, many older PCs are likely to be excluded from upgrading to Windows 12, mainly because the expected minimum requirements are stricter than Windows 11, especially around RAM, CPU generation, and AI hardware support. What’s Changing with Windows 12 Requirements Higher RAM baseline: Windows 12 is expected to require at least 8GB of RAM , compared to Windows 11’s 4GB minimum. This alone will eliminate a large number of entry-level or older PCs. Newer CPUs only: Microsoft is expected to support newer processor generations than those required for Windows 11. Older Intel and AMD chips that barely qualified for Windows 11 may not make the cut. AI hardware tier: Windows 12 will likely introduce two requirement tiers : Basic tier for traditional use (similar to Windows 11). Advanced tier for AI features (Copilot+, local AI processing). This will require modern CPUs with NPUs (Neural Processing Units) ...

Microsoft introduced an official Xbox Backward Compatibility program on PC , bringing classic console games directly to Windows 11 PCs and Windows handheld devices (such as the ASUS ROG Ally and Xbox Ally X) through the Xbox App. Currently Supported Games The initiative launched with a select initial wave of classic Xbox titles: BLiNX: The Time Sweeper Conker: Live & Reloaded Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge Fuzion Frenzy Licensing & Access Xbox Game Pass: Included across all Game Pass tiers. Digital Ownership: If you already own a digital console license for a supported backward-compatible game, it carries over to PC via Xbox Play Anywhere . Individual Purchases: Games can also be purchased standalone through the PC Xbox store. Graphic & Platform Enhancements The games run via a custom Microsoft-built translation layer with native PC enhancements: Resolution ...

In Windows 12, Microsoft is moving towards a full, native integration of Copilot into the operating system kernel, transforming it into a proactive, contextual assistant rather than a separate application. Key features of this deeper integration include: Contextual and Proactive Assistance: Copilot no longer simply answers questions, but offers proactive assistance at any point in the user's workflow. It learns from your tasks and optimizes processes without you having to explicitly open the application. AI-Centric User Interface: The Windows 12 interface is being redesigned to be modular and AI-focused, with rumors that the traditional Start button could be replaced by a Copilot shortcut, making it the central orchestrator of the user experience. Full System Control: Copilot is expected to have the ability to interact with and control various operating system and application functions. This includes opening and resuming files, guiding the user through tasks in real...

The unified NVIDIA App consolidates the legacy NVIDIA Control Panel and GeForce Experience into a single interface. You can manage GPU overclocking, display settings, graphics overrides, and in-game performance overlays directly within the app. 1. Automatic GPU Performance Tuning The NVIDIA App includes a built-in one-click GPU scanner that safely tests your graphics card's voltage-frequency curve to apply a stable auto-overclock: Open the NVIDIA App . Click System on the left navigation bar, then select the Performance tab. Toggle Automatic Tuning to On . Allow the app 10–20 minutes to test your hardware. (Keep your PC idle during the scan for accurate results). (Optional) Manually adjust the Power Target , Temperature Target , Voltage , or Max Fan Speed sliders if you want to enforce strict thermal or acoustic limits. 2. In-Game Performance Overlay & Statistics The redesigned overlay replaces th...

Waterfox’s Bookmarks toolbar gives you quick access to often-used bookmarks. This article describes how to use the Bookmarks toolbar and how to hide it. For more information on bookmarks, see the Bookmarks in Waterfox article. Show or hide the Bookmarks toolbar To show or hide the Bookmarks toolbar: Click the menu button and choose Customize…. Click the Toolbars button at the bottom of the screen. Click Bookmarks Toolbar to select it. To turn off the toolbar, remove the check mark next to it. Click Done. Tip : Another way to show or hide the Bookmarks Toolbar is to right-click a blank spot on the Tab bar at the top of the Waterfox window, find Bookmarks Toolbar in the context menu and choose your preferred setting. Add bookmarks to the Bookmarks toolbar Go to the page you want to add to the Bookmarks toolbar. In the address bar, click and drag the icon onto the Bookmarks toolbar. Re-order bookmarks on the Bookmarks toolbar To change the p...

To maximize frame rates (FPS) and minimize input latency in Windows 11, configure the NVIDIA Control Panel settings under two main sections: Manage 3D Settings and Change Resolution / Adjust Desktop Size . 1. Global 3D Settings ( Manage 3D Settings ) Right-click your desktop, open NVIDIA Control Panel (or launch it via the NVIDIA App), and navigate to 3D Settings > Manage 3D Settings > Global Settings : Low Latency Mode: Set to Ultra . Why: Reduces the CPU render queue to zero frames right before the GPU renders, minimizing latency. (Note: In games that support in-game NVIDIA Reflex , Reflex will automatically override this setting). Power Management Mode: Set to Prefer maximum performance . Why: Prevents the GPU from dynamically dropping its clock speeds during low-GPU-load scenarios, reducing micro-stutters and input lag. Shader Cache Size: Set to 10 GB (or Unli...

Windows in S mode does not allow installation of apps from outside of the Microsoft Store, so you will not be able to install Waterfox from Waterfox’s website. Although Waterfox is available from the Microsoft Store, it does not work on Windows in S mode and installation is currently disabled. To install Waterfox, you must switch out of Windows S mode . To learn more, see the Windows 10 and Windows 11 in S mode FAQ at Microsoft Support. Afterwards, visit Waterfox’s Waterfox download page or the Microsoft Store to install Waterfox. For more information, see How to install Waterfox on Windows and Download Waterfox on Windows from the Microsoft Store . Windows 10 support will end in October 2025 After October 14, 2025, Microsoft will no longer provide free software updates from Windows Update, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10. Your PC will still work, but we recommend upgrading to Windows 11. More information Windows 10 in S mode is designed for secu...

1. Graphics & Display Settings Game Mode: Go to Settings > Gaming > Game Mode and toggle On . This allocates CPU/GPU resources directly to the foreground game while suppressing background Windows updates and non-essential tasks. Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling (HAGS): Navigate to Settings > System > Display > Graphics > Change default graphics settings and turn On . HAGS offloads frame scheduling tasks from the CPU to a dedicated processor on the GPU, lowering input latency and enabling frame generation technologies (DLSS 3 / FSR 3). Optimizations for Windowed Games: In the same Default graphics settings menu, toggle On . This upgrades legacy DirectX 10/11 windowed games to the modern Flip Model presentation, delivering the low latency and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) support of Exclusive Fullscreen mode while remaining in borderless windowed mode. Refresh Rate & System VRR: Under Settings > System ...

In certain versions of Windows 10, you may receive a notification with a warning about Microsoft-verified apps when you run the Waterfox installer. Any copy of Waterfox downloaded from www.waterfox.net is safe to install , so choose “ Install anyway ”. Note You can also download and install Waterfox from the Microsoft Store . Using Windows 10 in S mode? See Windows in S mode won’t let me install Waterfox . If you do not see the option to “ Install anyway ”, follow the steps below to change your system settings. Open the Windows 10 start menu and select Settings . Click on Apps in the Windows Settings menu. In the Apps & features section go to Choose where to get apps , click on the dropdown menu below and select one of the options that allows you to install from Anywhere . Run the Waterfox Installer again. Your Windows may now allow it to install Waterfox.

Windows 11 introduced several architecture-level gaming improvements designed to reduce loading latency, improve visual fidelity, and streamline windowed performance compared to Windows 10. 1. Storage & Load Time Enhancements DirectStorage API DirectStorage allows the graphics card (GPU) to bypass the CPU when decompressing and transferring game assets directly from a fast NVMe SSD into VRAM. Impact: Drastically reduces loading screens from tens of seconds down to sub-second load times. It also allows developers to build seamless, highly detailed open worlds with zero asset pop-in. Requirements: An NVMe PCIe SSD, a DirectX 12 compatible GPU with Shader Model 6.0 support, and game-level implementation (e.g., Forspoken , Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart ). 2. Visual & Display Technologies Auto HDR Auto HDR automatically upgrades legacy Standard Dynamic Range (SDR) titles built on DirectX 11 and DirectX 12 to High Dynamic Range (HDR) using ...