Today, Microsoft will launch December’s month-to-month patch for Windows 11. The final Patch Tuesday in 2025 shall be enormous, as a result of in keeping with Windows Central, there shall be no fewer than 16 new options included within the replace.
These embrace varied design modifications to essential components such because the Start menu, particular enhancements to current features and fully new options. Let’s take a peek in any respect new options at a look.
1. Visual enchancment of the Windows search
The Windows search area has been visually improved to match the peak of the brand new Start menu design. This ought to get rid of some inconsistencies within the design. However, there may be nonetheless the issue that the new Start menu covers large parts of the screen for a lot of customers. It stays to be seen whether or not Microsoft will deal with this concern going ahead.
2. New “Share with Copilot” function within the taskbar
Microsoft’s Copilot AI can be making its approach into Windows 11, this time within the taskbar, the place the “Share with Copilot” possibility will quickly seem. You will then see a thumbnail of the app you might be at present utilizing and might rapidly begin a dialog with the chatbot by way of Copilot Vision. In addition, the transition between apps within the taskbar must be smoother whenever you transfer the mouse pointer over them.
3. Changes to Windows Spotlight for the desktop
Windows Spotlight, the function for dynamically altering background pictures in Windows 11, can be receiving enhancements. You can right-click on the desktop to vary the background extra rapidly. There can be the “Explore background” possibility, which offers extra details about the background.
4. Option to disable Drag Tray
Microsoft is introducing the choice to disable Drag Tray extra simply. This usually lets you choose recordsdata and drag them to the highest of the display screen to show choices for direct sharing. However, many customers discovered this annoying. After the replace, you may deactivate Drag Tray underneath Settings > System > Nearby sharing .
5. Better darkish mode in File Explorer
There can be one thing for followers of darkish modes. The darkish mode of File Explorer has been improved and given a extra uniform design in dialogue home windows, for instance for copying or shifting. The affirmation dialogues and different views are additionally being tailored. However, it’s nonetheless doable that some components don’t correspond to the brand new design or that the File Explorer briefly flashes white on startup. Microsoft will proceed to work on this.
Windows Central
6. New machine info card within the Start settings
If you might be searching for details about your machine, you now not need to click on by way of menus. This is as a result of a brand new tab referred to as “Device information” seems proper on the beginning web page of the settings, which shows details about your PC’s processor, reminiscence, RAM and graphics card, amongst different issues.
7. Settings for cellular gadgets within the settings
A brand new configuration menu for cellular gadgets seems within the Windows 11 Settings app. Here you may add new gadgets, entry the settings of linked cellular gadgets or take away a tool out of your account. It’s easy and easy.
8. Redesign of the data web page
Microsoft can be altering the look of the data web page with the December replace. It will now solely comprise a thumbnail view of the desktop background with an choice to rename your laptop. Some sections can even be renamed or obtain new entries with additional info.
9. Advanced settings with digital workspaces
Changes are additionally being made to the “Advanced” part. It accommodates a brand new web page referred to as “Virtual Workspaces”, the place you may handle virtualization features such because the Windows Sandbox or protected hosts.
10. Settings for Bluetooth keyboards and textual content cursors
Under Settings > Bluetooth and gadgets > Keyboard you will see that new choices for keyboards and textual content cursors after the patch. For instance, the keyboard repetition price, reassignment of the copilot key or accessibility.
11. New default configuration for Quick Machine Recovery
Since September, customers have been capable of use Quick Machine Recovery to quickly restore Windows 11. Microsoft is bettering the default setting for this feature in December to make it simpler to make use of.
The new configuration solely searches for options as soon as after which prevents the consumer from utilizing different choices to resolve the issue. This ought to stop the pc from persevering with to seek for options in a type of steady loop as an alternative of providing focused assist.
12. Redesign of the widgets board
On Tuesday, Windows 11 will introduce a brand new widgets board with a extra constant design. The new widgets shall be extra clearly separated from the Discover board and can now not use a web page overlay. Notifications can even be displayed with an icon of the board to which they belong.
Windows Central
13. Haptic suggestions for digital pens
Windows 11 gadgets with contact operate obtain haptic suggestions for using pens within the type of vibrations. These accompany the interplay with sure components, for instance when closing home windows.
14. New “Click to execute” motion menu
Copilot PCs have a brand new context menu referred to as “Click to execute”. Actions reminiscent of open, save, copy or share are organized on this menu. There can be a brand new enter area that lets you entry Copilot extra rapidly.
15. Xbox full display screen mode for extra handheld gadgets
The new Xbox Full Screen Mode is now accessible on extra gadgets. Until now, customers might solely apply it to the Asus ROG Ally and Ally X, however now the full-screen expertise in console design may also be used on regular PCs.
Navigation must be a lot simpler and smoother, particularly with a controller. The mode additionally reduces the useful resource consumption of the desktop and saves as much as 2GB of reminiscence.
You can activate the mode underneath Settings > Gaming > Full display screen expertise after which apply the change by restarting.
16. Windows Studio Effects for exterior cameras
If you’ve a Copilot PC, you may also prolong the AI-powered digital camera options of Windows Studio Effects to secondary cameras. This consists of USB webcams and built-in rear cameras.
In addition to the brand new options, the December patch of Windows 11 can even comprise some bug fixes and closed safety gaps. As at all times, we’ll report on these in a separate article.
