Microsoft is finalizing another major feature release of Windows 11, also referred to as Windows 11 22H2. What in the event you expect? A somewhat minor update, but with some features that consumers have already been asking for for quite a while.
With news that Microsoft could be picking right up the pace of how it releases features having an eye toward Windows 12 in 2024 it might be that the era of feature releases is arriving at a close. Regardless of. Well still see some key features put into Windows 11 in the fall, in line with the Windows 11 builds that Microsoft has begun testing.
Actually, its fair to state that Microsoft has finalized Windows 11 22H2, because the operating-system has been released into Microsofts Release Preview Channel of its Windows Insider program. Here, Microsoft trials new features and builds with a little band of beta testers who opt directly into trying them out before they release to everyone. When will Windows 11 22H2 ship to your personal computer? If history holds, September or October, with October perhaps much more likely since a few of the features the following involve some issues.
Originally, Microsoft released Windows 11 22H2 Build 22621 to the Release Preview Channel in June. (At this time, its at Build 22621.317.) Regardless of the final version eventually ends up as, we are able to be confident that Microsoft only will fix bugs from here on out, while keeping the tally of features essentially unchanged.
While your experience will differ, installing Windows 11 22H2 Build 22621 took about 5 minutes on a Razer Book (late 2021) review unit, which we repurposed as you of our test machines.
New features in Windows 11 22H2
A revamped File Explorer?
In 2017, Microsoft showed off Sets, a rethinking of Windows 10s File Explorer that combined browser, Mail, Calendar, File Explorer and much more right into a single window with various browser-like tabs denoting the separate apps. That endeavor was killed before seeing the light of day. Since that time Microsoft shows off a tabbed File Explorer (and just a tabbed File Explorer) in 22H2s Dev Channel, but that feature does not yet come in the version of File Explorer that ships in today’s Release Channel build, 22621.317.
Mark Hachman / IDG
It appears like Microsoft isnt as focused on a release date since it was previously, however, so we still could see that feature arrive in a short time.
Features like tabs in File Explorer will arrive to Windows Insiders (between your Dev and Beta Channels) if they are prepared, we’re much less “release” based once we was previously once we mentioned in this website post back February. https://t.co/fWAvvAPZfS
Brandon LeBlanc (@brandonleblanc) May 11, 2022
Microsoft is revamping the left-hand navigation pane in File Explorer. The emphasis here’s less upon showing what Windows really wants to show automagically Documents, Downloads, Music, etc. and much more what youd prefer to see, with regards to commonly used and pinned folders. Theres greater focus on making the OneDrive cloud section of your desktop, too, including greater visibility into just how much OneDrive storage youre using. Section of that includes having the ability to share files right to OneDrive, that is really not that much unique of simply copying them in to the OneDrive folder in File Explorer.
Windows Spotlight wallpapers
Windows 11 felt a little sterile at launch, so we have a tendency to lean towards whatever can humanize it a little. Thats where Windows 11s new Windows Spotlight feature will come in. Windows Spotlight simply changes up your background on the daily, attracting a pre-selected photo from Microsofts collection and putting it on as your background. Longtime Windows users understand that this feature has floated around for a long time in a few form or another, but its still welcome.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Snap layouts bar
Youre probably aware you could pin a window to an integral part of your screen via Windows Snap feature. In Windows 11, it is possible to access that by simply clicking the maximize window part of a window. In Windows 11, Microsoft has changed how you can enable Snap by dragging any window to the very best of the screen. Rather than automatically maximizing it, the Snap window can look.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Snap still works since it always does, from the maximize window icon. But thus giving a more impressive area to seize or target together with your mouse or finger, rendering it easier for everybody.
Live Captions
Accessibility features in Windows sometimes get short shrift, only if because able users assume theyll never utilize them. With Live Captions, all users will benefit. Live Captions is only a feature much like making use of your phones mic to dictate a text, except here, the dictation is put on any video you have playing back on your computer. Because the video plays, Windows will show the captions as theyre spoken even though the video doesnt natively support captions.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Sure, it works for streaming video, nonetheless it will undoubtedly be your recorded video where this really shines.
The Start menu is notoriously problematic in Windows 11, having an odd assortment of pinned apps, recommended files, and a concealed app list thats a click away. Not everyone could have taken full benefit of Windows 10s capability to organize apps in the Start menu, but this feature was virtually overlooked wholesale when Windows 11 launched. Anyway, Windows 10 allowed one to organize apps together in Start menu folders. NowfinallyWindows 11 will aswell.
Mark Hachman / IDG
The folders in Windows 11 (and, to be fair, Windows 10) remain tiny, to the stage that youll need to squint to create out what they will have included. But at the very least youll have the ability to group your selected apps, a thing that you havent had the opportunity to do before.
Taskbar drag-and-launch
A little but vocal minority was outraged when Microsoft cut this feature from Windows 11. Previously, dropping a graphic file onto the taskbar opened your selected editor. Ditto for, say, a Photoshop project. Now, this feature returns to Windows 11 via 22H2, restoring this part of the workflow for individuals who missed it. The Windows 11 taskbar can be an annoying step backwards, but it is a move in the proper direction at the very least.
Voice Access and voice controls
Microsoft is adding Voice Access in Windows 11 2H22, another accessibility feature which you can use by simply about anyone. Its another modality, in quite similar way that you could click with a mouse or tap a touchscreen. Here, though, youll use your voice. Voice Access intelligently recognizes areas of your screen, in order that saying Click next will click a button marked Next on your own screen. Thats just how its likely to work, anyway. Early testing on two different machines implies that Voice Access highlights the right button, but doesnt actually process the click function.
Microsoft can be adding a button on the taskbar to automatically mute or unmute the mic when in a Zoom or Teams call. It is possible to already mute your mic in virtually any amount of ways, needless to say, but Microsoft is hoping that youll continually be in a position to find this universal mute control.
Mark Hachman / IDG
New apps and app changes
Windows 11 22H2 will preload two inbox or built-in apps: Clipchamp and Microsoft Family. Clipchamp is a great, fun, free video editor that resides online, and therefore youll have to be connected to the web to utilize it. Microsoft Family is a rebranded Family Safety app, that allows one to serve being an administrator for the family in real life, tracking their location (should they give permission) and also setting content restrictions and screen time.
Microsoft also tweaked two important elements in Windows 11: Settings and the duty Manager. The latter has been given the Windows 11 treatment with both an operating and aesthetic upgrade that adds a left-hand nav bar to the app. Settings in addition has been enhanced, with an increase of information regarding Microsoft subscriptions put into the app.
Other changes
Microsoft can be making smaller changes, too. One moving the elements widget to the far left of the taskbar was already pushed to users. Others, including improvements to Near Share (and sharing files to OneDrive) will undoubtedly be section of the smaller upgrades and changes arriving at 22H2. Well make an effort to highlight probably the most consequential within our eventual overview of Windows 11 22H2 later this season.
