The Windows Setup experience has been revamped with a sleek and modern design. During installation (OOBE), if you need to connect to a network and Wi-Fi drivers are unavailable, you now have the option to select the Install drivers button to install drivers you’ve previously downloaded. This streamlined process ensures a smoother start with the new Windows version.
Enhanced Lock Screen and Start Menu
Lock Screen: Stay informed at a glance with the lock screen enhancements. Beyond weather updates, Windows Spotlight can now display sports scores, traffic updates, and financial news directly on your lock screen. Keep up-to-date without unlocking your device. Enable this feature by navigating to Settings > Personalization > Lock screen.
Start Menu:
- The Start Menu features a redesigned account manager. If you use a Microsoft account to sign in to Windows, you’ll get a clear overview of your account benefits. This feature also simplifies managing your account settings, making the new Windows version more user-friendly.
- App management is more intuitive. You can now drag apps directly from the Pinned section of the Start Menu and pin them to the taskbar for quick access to your favorite applications.
System Tray and Settings Improvements
System Tray:
- Consistent Clock Display: Hovering over the date and time in the system tray now consistently displays a clock, even if only one clock is set. This provides a uniform experience.
- Updated Charging Notification: The notification text for detecting a slow charger has been clarified, ensuring you are better informed about your device’s charging status in this new Windows version.
Settings App Enhancements: The Settings app in the new Windows version has received numerous updates to improve usability and control:
- Connected Devices Management: Easily manage all your PCs and Xbox consoles from a centralized location. A new page in Settings > Accounts > Linked devices provides this functionality. This feature is available in Home and Pro editions when signed in with your Microsoft account.
- Recovery Email Addition: A convenient Add now button is available in Settings > Accounts to quickly add a recovery email address to your Microsoft account. This ensures you never lose access, a crucial security improvement in the new Windows version. This option appears when you are signed in with your Microsoft account.
- Game Pass Recommendation Card: Discover new gaming experiences with the Game Pass recommendation card, now featured on the Settings Home page. This feature is available in Home and Pro editions for users who actively game on their PC.
- Simplified Wi-Fi Password Access: The Wi-Fi password is now more readily accessible at the top of the properties page under Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi.
- Default Location Configuration: Configure a default location to be used when precise signals like GPS are unavailable. The new settings experience can be found in Settings > Privacy & security > Location > Default location > Set default.
- Print Job Management: Pause and resume print jobs directly from the print queue, simplifying printer maintenance and control.
- Printer Renaming: Easily rename your printer within the settings for Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, making printer identification simpler.
- Storage Spaces Interface Refresh: The Storage Spaces interface has been revamped for more intuitive management. This includes clearer status indicators and streamlined links under Settings > System > Storage > Storage Spaces.
- Hearing Aid Support: Manage Bluetooth LE Audio hearing aids with ease under Settings > Accessibility > Hearing aids, enhancing accessibility features in this new Windows version.
Enhanced Audio and Display Settings
Audio Microphone Test Utility:
Windows now includes a new audio microphone test utility. This tool allows users to test and compare audio quality in both Default and Communication modes. Located within the microphone properties under Settings > System > Sound, this utility enables you to record and listen back to audio in both modes. This provides a clear comparison of the audio processing modes available for Windows applications. This is particularly useful for evaluating the specialized audio effects included in some audio drivers for communication purposes. By toggling between modes, you can experience firsthand how your microphone audio is captured and processed differently by communication and non-communication applications. This tool is designed purely for testing and comparison, without altering your audio settings. It also includes the ability to test the Voice Clarity feature, which further enhances the audio experience in Windows.
Display Improvements:
- Dynamic Refresh Rate Toggle: Dynamic refresh rate can now be enabled via a simple toggle switch. Once enabled, Windows dynamically adjusts the refresh rate up to the selected rate to conserve power.
- Improved Refresh Rate Logic: Enhanced logic for refresh rates now allows different refresh rates on different displays. This is contingent on the refresh rate capabilities of each monitor and the content being displayed on the screen.
- Battery Saver and DRR: If Dynamic Refresh Rate (DRR) is selected and Battery Saver is also enabled, Windows will remain at the lower refresh rate. It will only switch to the higher refresh rate after Battery Saver is turned off.
- Color Filter Tuning: New options are available for fine-tuning the intensity and color boost of color filters. Access these settings via Settings > Accessibility > Color filters.
- Color Management Settings Page: A new Settings page for color management is available under Settings > System > Display > Color management. This page allows you to add or remove color profiles, set default color profiles for connected displays, and configure automatic color management.
Bluetooth, Backup, and Security Updates
Bluetooth Device Detection:
Improved Bluetooth device detection now scans for all types of devices by default but only displays common device types initially. When an uncommon device is detected during scanning, users are presented with an Show all devices option. This allows users to view and connect to less common Bluetooth devices if needed. In environments with numerous Bluetooth devices nearby, this improvement makes it easier to find the intended device for connection.
Windows Backup Enhancements:
Windows Backup now includes the ability to back up your sound settings, including your sound scheme. Enable Remember my preferences and check the boxes for Personalization and Other Windows settings. These options are located in Settings > Accounts > Windows backup. Use the Windows Backup app to effortlessly restore these settings on a new device.
Enhanced Security Features:
New and improved security features have been integrated for work and school environments to bolster protection, making this new Windows version more secure:
- BitLocker: DMA and HSTI/Modern Standby requirements have been removed. As a result, more devices are now eligible for automatic and manual device encryption.
- Rust in the Windows Kernel: Utilizing a robust programming language designed to enhance system security and performance.
- Windows Protected Print Mode: Security for your print jobs, safeguarding confidentiality and integrity.
- Personal Data Encryption (PDE) for Folders: Encrypt your sensitive data at the folder level for an added layer of security.
- SHA-3 Support: The latest cryptographic hash functions, providing stronger security for data integrity.
- Local Security Authority (LSA) Enablement on Upgrade: Automatic security enhancement during system upgrades.
- Server Message Block (SMB) Protocol Changes: Updates to the SMB protocol to improve both security and performance.
- Windows Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS) Changes: Improved management and security of local administrator passwords.
- Remote Mailslot Protocol Disablement: Outdated protocols are being phased out to mitigate security vulnerabilities.
For comprehensive details on these updates, the documentation for IT professionals provides an in-depth overview.
Task Manager, Registry Editor, and Narrator Improvements
Task Manager:
- DDR Speed Units: The units for DDR speed have been updated from MHz to MT/s for more accurate measurements.
- Faster Process Handling: Task Manager now releases process handles more quickly when a process is stopped, improving system responsiveness.
- Enhanced Reliability and Performance: General improvements to reliability and performance ensure a smoother user experience.
- Accessibility Improvements: Including keyboard focus for easier navigation, tab navigation, text scaling, screen reader support, high contrast heatmaps, and easier resizing, making Task Manager more accessible to all users in this new Windows version.
Registry Editor:
The Registry Editor now supports limiting a search to the currently selected key and its subkeys, making registry edits more targeted and efficient.
Narrator:
Scan Mode in Narrator is now more responsive, making it easier to navigate and read large documents, especially in Microsoft Edge. To use Scan Mode, first turn on Narrator (Windows logo key + Ctrl + Enter). Then activate Scan Mode by pressing Caps lock + Spacebar during your Narrator session.
Help, Share, and Input Enhancements
Get Help App:
Get Help now offers improved network diagnostics to assist you in getting back online. You can select the specific network interface for troubleshooting, and the app provides enhanced diagnostics for driver and other hardware issues.
Windows Share:
- Accidental closure prevention: No more accidentally closing the Windows Share window by clicking outside of it. It can now only be closed by selecting the Close button in the top right corner.
- QR Code Generation: Easily generate QR codes for webpage URLs and cloud files directly from the Windows Share window. Select the Share button in the Microsoft Edge toolbar and choose Windows share options to share with your devices.
- Email to Self: You can now send emails to yourself from the Windows Share window. The emails are sent to the address associated with your Microsoft account.
- Teams Sharing: Share content directly to specific Microsoft Teams channels and group chats from the Windows Share window. Sign in with your work or school account to utilize this feature.
- Copy Button: A new Copy button in the Windows Share window allows you to quickly copy files for sharing.
- Android Device Sharing: Share content with your Android device directly from the Windows Share window. Link your Android device to your Windows PC via the Link to Windows app on your Android device and Phone Link on your PC.
Input Methods:
- New German Keyboard Layouts: Introduction of two new keyboard layouts, German Extended (E1) and (E2), compatible with the latest standards. These layouts enable typing for a wide range of characters and languages, including all Latin-based EU languages, Greek, IPA, and more.
- Colemak Keyboard Layout Addition: The Colemak keyboard layout is now available, offering an alternative for users who use Latin alphabet languages.
- New Hebrew Keyboard Layout: A new Standard Hebrew keyboard layout (Standard, 2018) has been added to cater to modern typing needs.
To enable any of these layouts, navigate to Settings > Time & Language > Language & region.
Emoji Support:
This update adds support for Emoji 15.1, bringing the latest emoji to the new Windows version.
