Optional April Update for Windows 11 Brings AI Agents on Taskbar, More

Microsoft released yesterday the optional April update for Windows 11, which includes the new Xbox Mode and other new features that will be rolling out to all users with next month’s Patch Tuesday update. This update (KB5083631), which was previously made available on the Release Preview Channel, also brings AI agents to the Windows 11 taskbar, starting with the Researcher agent in the Microsoft 365 Copilot app.

Here are the main new features included in this optional patch that will be delivered in phases to early testers:

Xbox Mode: This new mode, previously known as the Xbox Full Screen Experience (FSE), offers a console-like interface that streamlines access to PC games. It can be enabled from the Xbox app, Game Bar settings, or by pressing the Windows logo key + F11.

AI Agents on Taskbar: Windows 11 users will be able to monitor the work of AI agents like the Microsoft 365 Researcher agent right from the taskbar by hovering over the Microsoft 365 Copilot icon.

File Explorer improvements: The app now supports the uu, cpio, xar archive formats, and NuGet Packages (nupkg).

New haptic feedback effects: Users with a Surface Slim Pen 2, ASUS Pen 3.0, and MSI pen 2 with haptic feedback can go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mouse, Touchpad, or Pen > Haptic signals to enable new haptic feedback effects when performing certain actions, such as aligning objects in PowerPoint, snapping, or resizing windows.

Touch keyboard improvements: Voice typing on the Windows 11 touch keyboard has been redesigned to remove the full‑screen overlay and show voice typing animations directly on the dictation key.

Drop Tray: The existing Drag Tray is being renamed Drop Tray, and it now uses a smaller peek view. Its settings have also moved from Nearby sharing to Settings > System > Multitasking.

Microsoft Store improvements: This update reduces the occurrence of unexpected errors (0x80070057, 0x80240008, and 0x80073d28) when downloading and installing apps.

Microsoft also released yesterday the optional KB5083806 update for Windows 11 version 26H1, which will only ship on new ARM-powered devices coming later this year. This will likely include Microsoft’s refreshed Surface Pro and Surface Laptop lineup, which is expected to be released in two separate waves.