Microsoft has confirmed that Windows 11’s default use of TLS 1.3 has caused problems for IIS and IIS Express, since the protocol no longer supports renegotiation.
This means servers cannot request client certificates after the initial handshake, breaking setups that relied on that behavior.
Instead, http.sys now returns a “not supported” error, which IIS converts into an HTTP 500.
Most browsers have not implemented post-handshake authentication, so certificates must be requested up front.
Microsoft has not promised a fix, though workarounds exist such as disabling TLS 1.3 or adjusting http.sys bindings. For now, IIS admins may need to reconfigure how they request client certificates.
Intel has refreshed its Application Optimization (APO) tool with a big update that adds support for more games and shows real gains in performance.
APO is Intel’s thread scheduling tech that manages how your CPU’s Performance and Efficient cores handle demanding titles.
This month’s update brings more than two dozen games under APO’s wing, with 15 new names confirmed, including God of War, EA Sports FC 24, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition, and Cities: Skylines.
Intel says tests on its Core Ultra 9 285K with RTX 5090 showed up to 14% higher FPS in Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition and 21% better 1% lows in Dyson Sphere Program. APO now supports 20 CPUs directly and a wider set in Advanced Mode.
Windows 11 version 25H2 is nearly ready for prime time, as Microsoft prepares ISO files.
Microsoft has already pushed it to the Release Preview channel, confirming that the update will soon move from testing to broader rollout.
For regular PCs, this means you can expect it to appear first as an optional install before it becomes a standard feature update later in the year.
Unlike last year’s 24H2 release, this one is not a full rebuild of the operating system. Instead, 25H2 will arrive as a lightweight enablement package, which simply unlocks features already sitting dormant in 24H2.
When the installation media files are out, you'll be able to do a clean install of 25H2.
Microsoft has found no SSD-wrecking issue in the Windows 11 update.
We've spotted reports linking the August 2025 security updates for Windows 11 to SSD corruption and failures.
The company says its investigation found no evidence that the update caused the problems seen in some user reports. It added that it continues to monitor feedback and will investigate any new cases that appear.
SSD maker Phison echoed Microsoft’s findings, confirming it ran over 4,500 hours of tests and 2,200 test cycles on the drives mentioned in reports but couldn’t reproduce any failures.
The exact cause of the incidents remains unclear, but it doesn't appear to be a hoax.
Windows 11 version 25H2 is now in its final testing stage, signaling that the public release is near.
If you are in the Release Preview Channel, you can try it by heading to Settings > Windows Update and selecting “Check for updates,” then downloading the build 26200.5074 package.
Unlike version 24H2, this release comes as a smaller enablement update rather than a full upgrade, but both versions will share monthly feature and security updates.
The update also removes some legacy components, including PowerShell 2.0 and the WMI command-line tool, while giving IT admins more control over uninstalling built-in apps.
Microsoft plans to release official ISOs for clean installs next week.
Microsoft has pushed out a fix for the bug that triggered the “Pluton Cryptographic Provider” error on Windows 11 version 24H2 devices.
The patch is available now as part of the KB5064081 non-security update, which is rolling out to both commercial and consumer devices.
While the update is live, Microsoft says it could take up to a month to reach every eligible system. Once installed, the fix will also be included in all future security and non-security updates.
The error itself never affected actual system processes and was mostly a false alert. Microsoft is still investigating a separate bug that affects OBS NDI streaming performance and will share a permanent solution once it is ready.
Microsoft is shutting down the Mobile Plans app on Windows 10 and 11.
The app was designed to help you manage data plans and connect your device to cellular networks, but it will stop working on February 27, 2026 and will also be removed from the Microsoft Store.
As Microsoft notes, you will not lose cellular support on your device.
Instead, Microsoft wants you to buy or manage your plans directly from your carrier’s website. Windows 11 also has built-in tools in Settings that let you share your device ID with your carrier, so your eSIM can be activated automatically without extra setup.
Microsoft has merged a major update into PowerToys that adds native search for settings.
The update introduces a new indexing system for settings pages and a dedicated fuzzy search engine to deliver faster, more accurate results.
Alongside the search engine, developers added a new Common. Search library, improved build configurations, and even the spell-check dictionary was updated to recognize new terms tied to the settings interface.
This marks a big step in modernizing PowerToys, as it makes it easier to find new plugins without getting into menus.
Microsoft is adding a new option for enterprise customers to install quality updates during the out-of-the-box experience (OOBE).
This means IT admins can ensure devices get stability and bug-fix updates before a user signs in for the first time.
The feature works on Windows 11 version 22H2 or later for Enterprise, Pro, Education, or SE editions. Devices must be Entra-joined or hybrid-joined, managed through Intune, and set up with a Windows Autopilot Enrollment Status Page (ESP) profile.
Consumers with a regular Windows 11 license also have access to this feature, especially when they install Windows 11 24H2 on a PC with all updates installed.
Microsoft is rolling out the August 2025 Excel update with major improvements for Windows, Mac, and the web.
It comes with a new COPILOT function, letting you type natural prompts in a cell, reference data, and get instant AI-generated results that update as your data changes.
Other updates include Explain Formula, which gives step-by-step breakdowns directly in the grid.
It's also getting Python-powered image analysis, which allows you to drop an image into a cell and analyze it without extra tools.
Windows users also get customizable pen tools in the Draw tab, while web users can now edit chart data labels without switching platforms.
Mayank Parmar
Abhijith M B
Abhishek Mishra
