MMicrosoft has started distributing the first major feature update for windows 11 began. The update, which bears the abbreviation 22H2, will now gradually be offered for installation to users in 190 countries. An overview of important innovations:
- Start menu: The search should be faster and more precise, and the display of current events in widgets should be improved.
- window layout: The automatic window grouping function (snap layouts) becomes more versatile – on the one hand with better touch navigation, on the other hand with the possibility of multiple tabs in Microsoft’s Fix Edge Browser.
- “Do not bother”: So-called focus sessions can now be started, which automatically activate the “Do not disturb” function. This will mute notifications and taskbar badges, as well as app notifications in the taskbar. The focus function is also integrated in the clock app and offers a timer there that supports concentration phases, but also reminds you of breaks.
- Windows Studio: Under this label, Microsoft has brought together a range of new camera and audio features for optimal video and sound quality for video conferences or gaming. New features include Voice Focus to hide background noise and Background Blur to blur the background. There are also other video effects such as automatic framing or eye contact, which should help to remain in the center of the picture and maintain eye contact despite movements.
- Clipchamp: Microsoft makes its video editing program an integral part of Windows 11.
- Gaming: Gamers should benefit from performance optimizations that improve latency. A variable refresh rate is now also available for games in windowed mode. Auto HDR is also new in the gaming window mode: This function optimizes the display of games that do not output high-contrast images (HDR), but only images with a normal contrast range (SDR).
- Android apps: The announced Amazon Appstore is now joining the Microsoft Store on Windows 11 computers. So users can run Android apps on Windows if they want. The whole thing is officially still running as a preview, so there can still be problems here and there.
- Security: A new security feature (Smart App Control) is designed to help prevent untrustworthy applications, script files and malicious macros from running. In addition, Windows should in future recognize when login data is entered for potentially harmful applications or on compromised websites and warn about it (Defender Smartscreen).
More features from October 2022
That was not all. Microsoft also has announcedwanting to add more features via a new update in October:
- Explorer and Start Menu: It will soon also be possible to create tabs in File Explorer. In addition, the start menu has been revised: It then also offers quick access to frequently and recently used files, important files should also be able to be pinned and you can see information about the actions of other shared files there.
- Photos app: This built-in application is getting an update that provides a gallery view and should make searching, finding, managing, viewing, and backing up photos fundamentally easier.
- Suggestions when copying: If you copy a phone number or an appointment, for example, suitable actions should be suggested immediately – from a team call to adding an appointment in the calendar app.
- Active apps: There will be a new toggle in the taskbar that will open a new taskbar on the desktop with one click, showing all active apps.
You can check whether your own PC or notebook is already ready for Windows 11 Version 22H2 on the Windows update page. This can be reached by clicking on the Windows icon in the taskbar on the start page and then opening the settings in the window that opens by clicking on the gear icon.
If the installation of the 22H2 update is not yet offered, you can click on the “Check for updates” button on the Windows update page from time to time to start the update manually.