Trying to maintain up with all the latest Windows 11 features may be complicated, particularly throughout the Microsoft Build rush in May when Microsoft releases new options, then broadcasts others. This 12 months was no completely different, with Microsoft unleashing a torrent of recent Windows 11 options starting from practical to fantastical. But what’s coming, and when?
Microsoft now releases new options in what are colloquially often known as “Moments.” These Moments can happen at any time, which makes it much more complicated. Windows 11’s “Moment 3” was unveiled at Build with a bunch of thrilling new options coming very quickly — however Microsoft additionally tipped off much more goodies which are due at a future date.
We’ll define which new Windows options are arriving within the present “Moment 3,” and which will probably be despatched to your PC in a while.
Further studying: 5 ways Windows 11’s new Copilot AI assistant will make your life easier
The Windows 11 “Moment 3” options
The Moment 3 options, which we’ll define beneath, are thought of non-obligatory and won’t arrive till June except you’ve beforehand opted in to receiving new options early. They’ll arrive in what’s often known as the “June 2023 optional non-security preview release for Windows 11,” most likely due on “Patch Tuesday,” or June 13. They’ll arrive with out fanfare, however will virtually actually require a reboot after a background set up.
If you’d like these new options early, you’ll be able to. Simply go to the Windows 11 Settings menu, then Windows Update. Select “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available,” and toggle the change to “on.”
Microsoft has sometimes launched smaller quality-of-life options as a part of the person Moments, and Moment 3 isn’t any exception. Microsoft tested these features publicly earlier this month as a part of the Insider Preview 22621.1776 (Release Channel) beta, and now has revealed them as a closing launch.
Wider Widgets: One of the extra attention-grabbing additions to Windows 11 is a tweak to Widgets, which is able to permit extra room for user-configured apps. Widgets will probably be wider — three columns, as a substitute of two — and Microsoft guarantees a extra customized feed, too. Microsoft has proven off a brand new Widgets picker, which is able to present a small preview of what the user-picked widget will seem like, and steerage to seek out much more widgets. (The picker, although, could also be delayed.)
Microsoft
Sensor settings: Some laptops have presence sensors, robotically dimming your display if you stroll away and locking your PC to safe it. A brand new setting in Settings > Privacy & safety > Presence sensing will assist you to handle this.
VPN icon: You’ll see a small “shield” icon within the Taskbar if you’re browsing on one of our best VPNs.
USB4 Hubs and Settings: Intel-based laptops normally connect with Thunderbolt docks. USB4, although, is an almost equivalent function discovered primarily on AMD Ryzen laptops. Regardless, this new Windows Settings web page offers details about the system’s USB4 capabilities and the connected peripherals.
Bluetooth growth: Windows 11 will now help Bluetooth Low Energy Audio, a low-power audio customary supported by earbuds just like the Galaxy Buds2 and Buds2 Pro.
Account badging: You might not prefer it, however you might even see a small exclamation level (“!”) connected to your account identify within the Start menu, alerting you for when your Microsoft account wants consideration. This has been related to helpful reminders, aka ads, for different Windows options.
Live caption language growth: Live captions are one of many handier new options of Windows 11, offering subtitles for content material that don’t at all times have it. Live Captions will now be supplied in 10 further languages, together with Chinese, varied English dialects, and French, German, Spanish, and extra.
Based upon what Microsoft launched within the earlier preview, we imagine that you simply’ll see the next smaller adjustments as a part of the Moment 3 launch, too:
- New Print Screen shortcut: We documented how the PrtScn key will now open the Snipping Tool app.
- OneDrive storage indicator: You’ll see the total quantity of space for storing allotted to all your OneDrive subscriptions present up within the Accounts web page inside the Windows 11 Settings app.
- 2FA copying: If you might have a telephone related to your PC by way of Phone Link, now you can robotically copy any two-factor authentication (2FA) codes you obtain from different providers.
Microsoft
- Touch keyboard choices: The new Settings > Time & language > Typing > Touch keyboard setting lets you present the contact keyboard at all times, by no means, or solely if you disconnect the {hardware} keyboard. This is helpful for gadgets just like the Microsoft Surface Pro lineup, which embrace removable {hardware} keyboards.
- Clock seconds: Dying to see the precise seconds within the System Tray’s clock app? Now you’ll be able to.
- Bing Chat AI shortcut in search: Just just like the Bing Chat shortcut within the search field after it’s been clicked, it’s best to now see a small Bing Chat icon within the search field. That ought to change to your company’s icon for those who’re logged in with a company account.
- Content Adaptive Brightness Control: If you personal a two-in-one or a laptop computer, this function might mild or dim areas of the show relying on the content material. It’s not fairly HDR, however shut.
New Windows 11 options past Moment 3
Microsoft has additionally disclosed further options that will probably be coming to Windows 11, however at an undisclosed future time. Some we’ve seen or count on to see in Windows Insider beta code, whereas others could also be pushed to Windows PCs by way of the Moments mechanisms.
WinRAR help: WinRAR, 7-Zip, GZ and other compression formats are being integrated into Windows, fortunately. Microsoft expects that this will probably be obtainable to check quickly, with a full Windows 11 launch for decompressing these recordsdata in September. The firm hopes to allow you to create rar, zip, and different archives someday in 2024.
Windows Copilot: The huge new function of Build, Windows Copilot will deliver AI inside Windows. Microsoft guarantees you’ll see Windows Copilot in June, however hasn’t mentioned how. We’d count on this to be a reasonably main Windows Insider construct.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Taskbar app ungrouping: Windows 10 lets you present a number of apps on the Windows taskbar, individually labeled. Windows 11 is gaining that again, too. This function debuted in a Insider construct (Dev Channel) launch this week, hopefully that means that we’ll see this earlier than lengthy.
Right-clicking to shut a Taskbar app: A associated Taskbar trick will assist you to right-click a Taskbar app and kill the method, as you’ll from Task Manager.
Windows Backup: Microsoft is testing Windows Backup in an Insider (Dev Channel) construct. Windows Backup saves recordsdata, folders (and their structure areas in your desktop!), apps and extra to the cloud, then reinstates them on a brand new PC.
RGB lighting controls: You might not personal a bunch of blinged-out PC peripherals with coloured lights working up and down like a Christmas tree, however for individuals who do, we salute you. Microsoft mentioned this week that it’s adding RGB lighting controls to Windows, offering standardized settings for an industry badly in need of them.