(Credit: Zooey Liao/PCMag/Windows/John Burek)
Microsoft has spent a lot of this year trying to fix Windows by boosting performance, removing annoyances, and polishing the interface, but bigger changes are on the horizon for the five-year-old OS. In the wake of Googlebook OS and macOS Golden Gate going deep with AI integrations, Microsoft has a new vision for Windows to show off at an upcoming event, and I have some expert predictions to share.
Speaking of Googlebooks, I don't recommend that Android phone owners rush out and get one. You might very well find that Windows 11's phone integrations work well enough for messages and notifications. What every Windows user should prioritize, however, is installing the emergency patch Microsoft released last week following a particularly buggy update.
Read on for my predictions about the imminent Windows and Surface event, a quick rundown of some easy-to-miss features on Windows 11 for Android users, and a look at the latest Windows Update chaos.
Will Microsoft's AI Vision Finally Become Reality?
Microsoft is hosting a major Windows event in San Francisco on Oct. 7, promising “a conversation on how local AI will shape the next chapter of the PC.” The schedule features Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, and Microsoft’s executive president of Windows and devices, Pavan Davuluri. Here's what I imagine is in store.
Don’t expect Windows 12; Windows 11 remains Microsoft's focus. The company will almost certainly highlight the changes it made this year to address feedback and likely promise future tweaks to improve performance (especially on 8GB devices), modernize the OS interface, and address common pain points.
AI will be a major talking point. With Nvidia's CEO in attendance, Microsoft is sure to speak more about its Nvidia RTX Spark-powered Surface Laptop Ultra. I tried the new hardware at Build, but Microsoft hasn’t announced pricing or a release date yet. The company said the device would be available this fall, so a launch date isn't out of the question.
I also expect Microsoft to, at the very least, begin articulating how AI will help ordinary Windows users. The OS is now far behind competitors on AI features. Googlebook OS includes deep Gemini integrations, and macOS Golden Gate has an excellent AI-powered Siri assistant. Meanwhile, Copilot can't change simple system settings. We might hear more about the availability of local AI models across a wider range of PCs. Simpler AI models might run on average PCs, with more powerful ones requiring a new RTX Spark machine like the Surface Laptop Ultra. Microsoft already develops such small language models, but they have yet to become a core part of the OS. Previous headline AI features, such as the controversial Recall tool, are exclusive to Copilot+ PC laptops, which the company is deemphasizing.
Windows Is Nearly as Capable as Googlebook OS for Android Users
Google’s new Googlebooks run the aptly named Googlebook OS, which is very similar to Android and promises unbeatable integration with Android phones. For example, this connection should enable you to quickly hand off apps from an Android phone to a Googlebook, as well as access your Android phone’s storage in the Googlebook OS file manager.
But that's not enough of a reason to go buy one. Windows already pairs quite well with Android phones. The Phone Link app lets you text from your PC and view notifications, though the experience is sometimes inconsistent. Microsoft's OS can also show your Android phone’s files in File Explorer. Windows can even mirror Android apps if you have a Samsung Galaxy phone or another model from this list.
My point is that you should think hard about buying a Googlebook if the Android phone integration is your primary motivation. After all, these laptops aren't nearly as affordable as traditional Chromebooks.
Another Emergency Patch (And Another Reboot)
Microsoft has been trying to sell the idea that Windows 11 PCs require only a single reboot per month for updates. However, September’s Patch Tuesday update introduced several serious bugs, including those that broke Anthropic’s Claude Cowork AI tool and caused issues with some USB audio devices. Microsoft released an emergency update (KB5129195) last week to fix these problems, which required another reboot. This isn't the first time that Microsoft has had to issue an emergency update this year. Back in July, for example, it issued KB5121767, which fixed performance issues on some Dell PCs.
September’s update was substantial, including a movable taskbar, so it's fair to expect a few bugs. Still, Microsoft either needs to drastically improve the reliability of these updates (even if the pace of new features slows) or fully walk back the claim about a single monthly restart for updates.
Ask Our Expert: How Can I Save Downloads to My Preferred Folder?
Do you have a question about Windows? I’m here to share my knowledge! You can submit your question here, and I may answer it in an upcoming Windows Guide newsletter. If you’re not subscribed to the newsletter, head here to sign up, and check your inbox each week for the latest Windows updates from me. Now, on to this week’s question!
Burt M. asks: “Windows 11 sometimes saves downloads to my custom C:\Downloads folder, and sometimes it saves them to the standard Downloads folder. How can I save everything to C:\Downloads and keep all my downloads in one place?”
Thanks for your question, Burt! Windows has a standard Downloads folder that is stored at C:\Users\Name\Downloads by default. It's possible to move this folder by right-clicking the Downloads folder in File Explorer, selecting Properties, choosing the Location tab, clicking Move, selecting your preferred location, and clicking OK.
If you've created a separate Downloads folder higher up in your drive structure instead of moving the default one, some applications may remember your preference for the custom downloads folder, while others default to the standard downloads folder.
In that case, I recommend moving your Downloads folder to C:\Downloads using the option in the Properties dialog. Windows will automatically merge files from both folders, and all existing downloads will be in the same place. Programs that automatically download files to the standard Downloads folder will now save them there.
As an aside, the ability to move a default folder is especially useful if you have multiple drives and want to store particular folders on different ones. The Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Music, and Videos folders support this functionality.
About Our Expert
I've been writing about technology for more than 15 years and using it in earnest for over twice as long. As a member of PCMag's software team, I focus on Windows coverage, but also write about other key desktop operating systems and system apps. (I used Windows 3.1 upon its release and have followed every subsequent release closely).
Prior to joining PCMag, I wrote for How-To Geek starting in 2011, and my articles amassed over a billion page views. I went on to run the publication as editor-in-chief for four and a half years. I have also contributed to Computerworld, Fast Company, PCWorld, Reader's Digest, The New York Times, and many other outlets about everything from AI to PC hardware to Windows. I founded and ran my own direct-to-reader Windows-focused newsletters, Windows Intelligence and The Windows ReadMe, working in partnership with Thurrott.com.
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