Microsoft Build 2026: Windows 11 gets developer mode with dark mode, Unix tools, and on-device AI
By
Frederic Lardinois
Summary
At Microsoft Build 2026, Microsoft is launching a developer-optimized Windows 11 experience that includes dark mode (on by default), a quieter OS with widgets/notifications/recommendations turned off, over 30 settings retuned for developers, Unix utilities in PowerShell, an AI terminal, and on-device AI models. The initiative aims to win back developers who have drifted to other platforms like macOS and Linux.
Source
bskyMicrosoft Build 2026: Windows 11 gets developer mode with dark mode, Unix tools, and on-device AIbit.lyKey quotes
· 3 pulledThis is part of a new, developer-optimized Windows 11 experience that quiets down the operating system and turns off widgets, notifications, and in-product recommendations, with more than 30 settings retuned for how developers work.
The point is to get out of the way (and even if you are not a developer, turning off most of these features makes Windows 11 better).
Microsoft is launching so many new features for developers, it's hard to keep up.
You might also wanna read
Microsoft Build 2026: Project Solara OS, Linux integration, and AI models headline developer conference
Microsoft's Build 2026 conference in San Francisco focuses on winning back developers with major announcements including Project Solara (an
The Verge·27d ago
Microsoft Build 2026: Surface RTX Spark Dev Box and AI updates lead the announcements
Microsoft's Build 2026 keynote featured major announcements including the Surface RTX Spark Dev Box (an Arm-based developer device with Nvid
The Verge·26d ago
Auto Dark Mode for Windows: Automatic Theme Switching Between Light and Dark Modes
Auto Dark Mode is a Windows application that automatically switches between dark and light themes based on scheduled times, bringing a featu
github.com·8mo agoWhy Microsoft Needs a Stripped-Down "Windows Lite" to Win Back Developers
A blog post arguing that Microsoft is losing software developers ("Builders") to macOS and Linux due to Windows' bloat, telemetry, ads, and
Why Microsoft Needs a Stripped-Down "Windows Lite" to Win Back Developers
A blog post arguing that Microsoft is losing software developers ("Builders") to macOS and Linux due to Windows' bloat, telemetry, ads, and
Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7271 Released to Dev and Beta Channels
Microsoft releases Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7271 (KB5070307) to both Dev and Beta Channels, marking continued development of W
blogs.windows.com·7mo ago
Guide to Optimizing Windows 11 25H2: Removing AI Features and Decluttering the OS
This article provides a comprehensive guide for Windows 11 users to clean up and optimize their operating system after the 25H2 update. It f
arstechnica.com·7mo ago
Comments
Sign in to join the conversation.
No comments yet. Be the first.