Microsoft has announced new features coming soon to Windows 11 during an event about how Windows will power the future of hybrid work. Windows 11 received its first big update in February with improvements for the Taskbar, File Explorer, Quick Settings, and other features, and more incremental updates are in the pipeline.
Most of the features that Microsoft announced today are already being tested with Windows Insiders on the Dev and Beta Channel. If you’re not an Insider, though, here’s what you can expect:
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Tabs in File Explorer: This is a hidden feature in the latest Windows 11 Insider builds, but Microsoft made it official today. File Explorer tabs have been a popular request, and they should really make it easier to multitask.
Contextual suggestions in File Explorer: This feature will suggest relevant content and contact across Windows in File Explorer. It’s powered by Context IQ, a set of capabilities for Microsoft 365 that Microsoft announced last year/
App Folders in Start: This one is pretty straightforward, but Windows 11 users will be able to create app folders in the Pinned section of the new Start Menu.
Live Captions: Windows 11 is getting a big accessibility feature with system-wide Live Captions, which will support all audio experiences including web-based audio sources.
Voice Access: The speech-recognition feature will soon allow Windows 11 users to use voice commands to control their devices, switch between apps, enter numbers and text, and more.
Touch Snap layouts: Snap layouts on Windows 11 made it easier to optimize your screen space with window snapping, and Microsoft is now working on adding touch snap layouts for touch-enabled devices.
Intelligent meeting features: Windows 11 will improve the meeting experience with new hardware-dependent features like Voice clarity, Automatic framing, and Portrait background blur.
Security improvements: Microsoft Defender SmartScreen is getting enhanced phishing detection and protection. Smart App Control will also ensure that only trusted applications can run on a Windows 11 PC.
Windows 365 integration: A new native Windows 365 app is coming to Windows 11, and Windows 365 Switch will also allow users to switch between their Cloud PC and local PC with a single click.
Microsoft didn’t give a clear ETA for all these new Windows 11 improvements, but the company can now start rolling out new features when they’re ready without having to wait for the release of Windows 11’s next major update, which is expected later this year. Windows 365 actually got a lot of attention today, and you can learn more about what Microsoft is doing to remove barriers between the PC and the cloud in our separate post.
“Since launching Windows 11, we’ve seen strong demand and the highest quality and product satisfaction scores of any version of Windows we’ve ever shipped. This is just the beginning, our team is committed to innovating how Windows can streamline experiences whether you’re returning to the office, working from home or never left the workplace as a frontline employee,” said EVP and Chief Product Officer Panos Panay today.
blue77star
<p>Nothing useful to me here. Best version of post Windows 7 crappy releases is Windows 10 LTSC…no bloatware with it.</p>