Licensing
The latest Licensing coverage — news, analysis, and updates from the WindowsNews.AI desk.
Microsoft's New COPILOT Function Puts Generative AI Inside Excel Formulas
Microsoft has taken its deepest plunge yet into AI-assisted productivity by embedding a generative AI function directly into Excel’s formula engine. The new =COPILOT function, now rolling out to...
From Pilot to Production: How Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows 365 Are Redefining Cloud-Delivered Windows 10
The shift to delivering Windows 10 through the cloud has moved from experimental to essential for enterprises wrestling with remote work, security, and cost pressures. Microsoft’s Azure Virtual...
Borderlands 3 and Sea of Stars Lead Xbox Game Pass Exodus on August 31 — Here’s How to Beat the Clock
Microsoft confirmed today that five games are leaving Xbox Game Pass on August 31, 2025. The headliners are Borderlands 3 Ultimate Edition and Sea of Stars, just weeks before the launch of...
Microsoft’s $30 Windows 10 Security Lifeline: Everything You Need to Know About Consumer ESU Enrollment
The clock is ticking for Windows 10. As the October 14, 2025 end-of-support date barrels forward, Microsoft has quietly issued a rare consumer-friendly move: a one-year Extended Security Updates...
Microsoft Extends Windows 10 Security Updates Through 2027 for Consumers — With a Catch
Microsoft has officially begun enrolling Windows 10 users in its long-awaited Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, granting consumers up to two more years of critical security patches after the...
Microsoft Deploys 60-Day Windows 10 Deadline: ESU Enrollment Opens at $30 for One-Year Patch Extension
Windows 10 users are now confronting a hard deadline as Microsoft begins a phased rollout of a 60-day warning on qualifying devices, pushing them to decide how they will secure their systems before...
Windows 11's File Explorer Gains AI Image Editing, Document Q&A, and Native Archiving
Microsoft is testing a series of ambitious updates to Windows 11’s File Explorer that transform the humble file manager into a context-aware productivity surface — complete with AI-powered image...
Azure Arc-Enabled SQL Server Hits US Gov Virginia—FCI and AG Support Still Missing
Microsoft has officially brought Azure Arc-enabled SQL Server to the US Government Virginia region, opening the door for federal agencies and government contractors to manage on‑premises and hybrid...
Windows 11 AI Update Unlocks Settings Agent and Recall, But Copilot+ Gatekeeping Stirs Debate
Microsoft’s Release Preview channel just received Build 26100.5061, a feature-packed update that brings a conversational AI agent to Settings, a redesigned Recall homepage, and AI-powered actions...
Microsoft Declares Windows Backup for Organizations Generally Available in Latest 22H2 Preview
Microsoft rolled out Windows 10 22H2 Build 19045.6276 (KB5063842) to the Release Preview Channel on August 14, 2025, delivering a quality-focused cumulative update that carries two significant...
Microsoft Embeds Microsoft 365 Companions into Windows 11 Taskbar, Balancing Convenience and Control
Microsoft is now pushing three lightweight Microsoft 365 companion apps—People, File Search, and Calendar—directly onto the Windows 11 taskbar for eligible business customers, where they...
Windows 10 Users Urged to Secure a Verified ISO Now Before Microsoft Pulls the Plug in October
Microsoft has locked in October 14, 2025, as the final end of support for Windows 10, and the clock is ticking for anyone who plans to keep running or repairing systems after that date. The company...