From: Anonymous@Anonymous.org   
      
   I tested Windows 11 February 2026 Updates: Everything new, improved, and   
   fixed   
      
   Microsoft has begun rolling out the Windows February 2026 Patch Tuesday   
   update for Windows 11 and 10, and while it may not look flashy at first, it   
   is one of the more important quality updates the OS has received in recent   
   months, and weÿd recommend you install the update.   
      
   Windows 11 Build 26200.7840 for Version 25H2   
      
   The update, identified as Windows 11 KB5077181 (Build 26200.7840), is now   
   available for Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2. It brings a mix of new   
   features, accessibility improvements, security upgrades, AI component   
   updates, and a long list of bug fixes.   
      
   After a turbulent 2025 filled with broken updates, emergency patches, and   
   reliability issues, Microsoft has been under pressure to clean up Windows   
   11ÿs reputation. February 10ÿs Patch Tuesday looks to be in the right   
   direction.   
      
   Like most recent Windows updates, KB5077181 is being delivered through a   
   controlled rollout. Some features are arriving gradually through   
   Microsoftÿs Controlled Feature Rollout system, while others are part of the   
   normal broad release. This means that you may not see all the changes on   
   day one.   
      
   Here is everything that is included in KB5077181:   
   New features rolling out with the February 2026 Windows 11 update   
      
   The February 2026 Patch Tuesday update introduces a solid set of new   
   features. Most of these are arriving through Microsoftÿs gradual rollout   
   system, which means you may not see everything immediately after installing   
   KB5077181, which is totally normal. Some features will appear within days,   
   others may take weeks.   
   Cross-Device Resume finally becomes more useful   
      
   One of the most practical additions in this update is the expanded   
   Cross-Device Resume feature. Microsoft first introduced XDR in mid-2025,   
   but it was limited in scope. With the February 2026 update, Cross-Device   
   Resume now works with more apps and more Android devices.   
      
   Once enabled, Windows 11 can pick up activities from your phone and   
   continue them on your PC. This includes:   
      
       Resuming Spotify playback   
       Continuing work in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint   
       Restoring active browser sessions   
      
   Vivo phone users can now continue browsing sessions from Vivo Browser   
   directly on Windows.   
      
   If you use an Android phone from HONOR, OPPO, Samsung, vivo, or Xiaomi,   
   Windows 11 can also resume online files that you opened inside the   
   Microsoft Copilot app. These files open automatically in Microsoft 365 apps   
   if installed, or in your default browser otherwise.   
      
   It is worth noting that this feature only works with online files. Content   
   stored locally on your phone without cloud syncing is not supported.   
   Windows MIDI Services gets a major upgrade   
      
   Musicians and audio professionals are getting one of the most meaningful   
   improvements in the February 2026 update. Windows MIDI Services has been   
   overhauled with better support for both MIDI 1.0 and MIDI 2.0. The update   
   introduces:   
      
       Full WinMM and WinRT MIDI 1.0 support with built-in translation   
       Shared MIDI ports across apps   
       Custom port naming   
       Loopback functionality   
       App-to-app MIDI routing   
       Performance optimizations and bug fixes   
      
   These new features can potentially make Windows a more reliable platform   
   for music production and live performances.   
      
   Microsoft is also offering an optional App SDK and Tools package, which   
   enables built-in MIDI 2.0 features and includes tools like MIDI Console and   
   the MIDI Settings app. These downloads are currently unsigned and may   
   trigger security warnings during installation.   
   Smart App Control can now be turned off without reinstalling Windows   
      
   Smart App Control (SAC) has been controversial since its introduction.   
   Previously, once you enabled it, the only way to disable it was to   
   reinstall Windows. That restriction is now gone.   
      
   Starting with the February 2026 update, you can turn Smart App Control on   
   or off at any time from:   
      
   Windows Security > App & Browser Control > Smart App Control   
      
   When enabled, SAC blocks untrusted or potentially harmful applications   
   before they run. Removing the restriction makes the feature far more   
   practical for power users and developers.   
   Windows Hello now supports external fingerprint readers   
      
   Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security (ESS) is also expanding. Until now,   
   ESS only worked with built-in biometric sensors. With this update, Windows   
   11 now supports compatible external fingerprint readers as well.   
      
   You can set this up from:   
      
   Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options   
      
   After connecting a supported device, Windows will guide you through   
   enrollment. This brings stronger authentication to desktops and   
   custom-built PCs that previously lacked secure biometric hardware.   
   Settings app gets a new Device card (US only)   
      
   Microsoft is adding a new Device card to the Settings home page. The card   
   displays key hardware and usage information, including:   
      
       Processor   
       Memory   
       Graphics   
       Storage   
      
   It also links directly to the About page for more detailed specifications.   
   This feature had been paused during the August 2025 rollout and is now   
   resuming. For now, it is only available in the United States and requires   
   signing in with a Microsoft account.   
   Accessibility and voice features are getting steady improvements   
      
   Several accessibility and voice-related features are being refined in the   
   February 2026 update.   
      
       Narrator now offers more granular control over how it reads on-screen   
   elements. You can customize which details are spoken and adjust their   
   order. This helps reduce unnecessary verbosity and improve navigation as   
   well.   
       Voice Access has received a redesigned onboarding experience. The new   
   setup wizard helps users download language models, choose microphones, and   
   learn basic commands in Voice Access more easily.   
       Voice Typing is also improving, with a new ´Wait time before acting¡   
   setting. This lets you control how long Windows waits before executing a   
   spoken command. The feature helps make recognition more accurate for   
   different speech patterns and speeds.   
      
   Secure Boot and security enhancements in the normal rollout   
      
   Some security-focused features are part of the normal rollout and will   
   reach devices more quickly.   
      
       For Windows 11 version 24H2, Microsoft is updating the Boot Manager to   
   use the newer 2023 UEFI certificate. This replaces the older 2011-signed   
   bootloader. While this improves security, Microsoft warns that resetting   
   Secure Boot databases or toggling Secure Boot incorrectly can trigger boot   
   violations. In such rare cases, you may need recovery media to restore   
   access.   
       Administrators are also getting new controls for Data Protection API   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)