What’s New and Familiar in Windows 11 (24H2)

Microsoft describes Windows 11 as being "fresh and familiar," and while that sounds paradoxical, it's true. That is, Windows 11 offers a fresh new user experience that is simpler, prettier, and more modern than that of its predecessor, Windows 10. But it is also instantly familiar, providing all the same basic interfaces that Windows users expect, know, and use.

For those who were using Windows 11 already, the latest version--called Windows 11 version 24H2--is largely consistent with its predecessors, though Microsoft has made many changes throughout the system by improving existing features and adding new features and apps.

We will dive into these topics in more detail throughout the book, but here is a quick breakdown of the major changes, improvements, and features available in Windows 11, whether you're coming from Windows 10 or an earlier version of Windows 11.
New design
The first thing you'll notice when you boot into Windows 11 is its fresh new design. Microsoft has dramatically simplified the user interface in Windows 11 while retaining the basic look and feel of previous Windows versions.

Familiar interfaces like the Desktop, Taskbar, and Start are all present as before, but they're more streamlined and prettier than before. Even the system sounds have been completely overhauled to help create an overall sense of calm, Microsoft claims.

Where did it go?
One side effect of Microsoft's simplification work in Windows 11 is that some common interfaces in Windows 10 are now harder to find, require extra steps, or are simply missing. We will point out these stumbling blocks as needed and any workarounds when available.
At a high level, the new Windows 11 design consists of several key components. It's simpler and more modern looking than Windows 10, and more naturally transitions between Light and Dark modes. Key interfaces like Start and the icons on the Taskbar are now centered by default to more closely align with the look and feel of mobile platforms like Android and iPhone. And windows and controls now display with curved corners instead of the sharp-edged corners from before, helping to make Windows 11 feel calmer and cleaner.
Lock screen and sign-in screen
The Lock screen appears when you power on or wake up your PC. The version you see in Windows 11 is very similar to that of Windows 10, but it's been updated with the new Windows 11 font treatment and now displays an enhanced "Weather and more" experience with weather, finance, traffic, and sports cards along the bottom of the screen.

Where did it go?
The Windows 11 Lock screen is missing one feature from Windows 10: You can no longer configure up to 7 apps that display quick status alerts. (The old detailed status alert functionality is now called Lock screen status.) There is no workaround for this regression.
When you click past the Lock screen Windows 11 displays the Sign-in screen, where you authenticate your account and sign in to Windows. There...