Microsoft is testing a new version of its Quick Machine Recovery (QMR) feature, along with an update to Smart App Control (SAC) that makes it easier to use.
The new updates are now available to Windows Insiders, allowing users to turn Smart App Control on or off without doing a full Windows reinstall.
Quick Machine Recovery helps IT administrators remotely fix Windows boot problems, eliminating the need for physical access to the affected computer. If Windows 11 fails to start after a driver update or system change, it automatically enters the Windows Recovery Environment and launches the Quick Machine Recovery Tool. The tool connects to the internet, sends crash data to Microsoft, and helps administrators undo the issue by removing faulty updates or adjusting settings to restore the system.
The latest improvement makes QMR faster and more efficient. Instead of running continuous scans, it now performs a single, one-time scan to detect and fix problems. Microsoft says this change ensures that users aren’t left waiting while the system keeps searching for a fix. If a solution isn’t immediately available, QMR will suggest the best recovery options to help users get back into Windows as quickly as possible.
Quick Machine Recovery was first introduced in November 2024 as part of Microsoft’s Windows Resiliency Initiative, which followed a major outage earlier that year caused by a buggy CrowdStrike Falcon update. That incident left hundreds of thousands of Windows devices unable to boot. Microsoft began testing QMR in March with Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel, and it has since continued improving the tool.
Microsoft also announced an important change to Smart App Control, a security feature that blocks untrusted or suspicious apps. Previously, users needed to reinstall Windows to turn SAC on or off, but with this update, it can now be easily toggled from the Windows Security settings under App & Browser Control.
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These updates are currently rolling out to users running the Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7070 (KB5070300) in the Dev and Beta channels. Last month, Microsoft also began testing a new feature that suggests running a memory scan after a Blue Screen of Death to improve system stability and reliability.
