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Microsoft has released a firmware update for the Surface Slim Pen 2 that expands support for Windows 11’s system-level Haptic Signals feature. Previously limited to a few apps such as Microsoft 365, the pen’s haptic hardware can now integrate directly with Windows 11, giving users tactile feedback for actions like dragging files in File Explorer, aligning objects in apps, or snapping windows to screen edges. Users can adjust the strength of the haptic signals to suit personal preference. This ch
Surface Slim Pen 2 firmware adding system-level Haptic Signals integration means tactile feedback is available across Windows 11, affecting UI interaction and accessibility. Tech professionals should plan for user experience changes, driver and firmware management, and testing for apps that rely on precise input feedback.
Dossier last updated: 2026-05-30 04:16:05
Microsoft is testing a redesigned Start menu in Windows 11 Build 26300.8553 for Insiders in the Experimental channel, letting users hide or show Pinned, Recent and All apps areas and rename "Recommended" to "Recent" with three display modes (recent installs, recent files, or both). The update adds three size options (Automatic, Small, Large) to reduce Start menu footprint, preserves All apps views (Category, Grid, List), and improves responsiveness when Low Latency Profile is enabled. Windows Latest notes the performance gains are partial and suggests a fuller improvement will require migrating Start and core components to native WinUI 3. This matters for customization, privacy and perceived system responsiveness.
Microsoft released multiple Windows 11 preview builds to different Windows Insider channels on May 29, including Beta (Build 26220.8544) and several Experimental tracks (Builds 26300.8553, 28020.2207, 29599.1000). Key user-facing changes include redesigned Start menu personalization—renaming “Recommended” to “Recent,” toggles for showing pinned/recent/all apps, new small/large size options, and hiding user name/avatar—and improved Windows Search with substring matching for compound file names. Microsoft cautioned an internal bug causing crashes on System Guard–enabled AMD devices will block the Experimental (future platform) build rollout to affected PCs until fixed. Microsoft will begin pushing Windows 11 26H1 previews to selected Insiders on June 5, noting kernel differences and upgrade caveats for devices choosing 26H1.
Microsoft has released a firmware update for the Surface Slim Pen 2 that expands support for Windows 11’s system-level Haptic Signals feature. Previously limited to a few apps such as Microsoft 365, the pen’s haptic hardware can now integrate directly with Windows 11, giving users tactile feedback for actions like dragging files in File Explorer, aligning objects in apps, or snapping windows to screen edges. Users can adjust the strength of the haptic signals to suit personal preference. This change broadens hardware-software interaction on Windows, making touch-and-pen workflows more responsive and reinforcing Microsoft’s efforts to embed richer multimodal feedback into the OS.
Microsoft is testing four Start menu improvements for Windows 11 under its Windows K2 program via the Windows Insider channel: a compact/resizable layout option to let users choose smaller or larger Start menus; a privacy toggle to hide account name and profile picture in the Start menu for screen-sharing scenarios; the ability to hide the “Recommended” region and control visibility of the “Pinned/Recommended/All” sections; and a decoupling of Start menu file recommendations from system-wide recent-files lists so users can disable Start recommendations without affecting Taskbar or File Explorer jump lists. These changes focus on customization, privacy, and day-to-day usability.