Features new to Windows 11

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Windows 11, a major release of the Windows NT operating system and the successor to Windows 10, introduces new features compared to its predecessors.^[1] Some of these include a redesigned interface, new productivity and social features, and updates to security and accessibility, alongside improvements to performance.^[2][3]

Windows shell and user interface[]

Fluent Design System[]

Updates to the Fluent Design System, a design language introduced by Microsoft in 2017,^[4] are featured in Windows 11. According to Microsoft, the design of Windows 11 is "effortless, calm, personal, familiar, complete, and coherent."^[5] The redesign focuses on simplicity, ease of use, and flexibility,^[6] addressing some of the deficiencies of Windows 10.^[7] Most interfaces in Windows 11 are streamlined and feature rounded geometry, refreshed iconography, new typography, and a refreshed color palette. In addition, translucency and shadows are made more prevalent throughout the system.^[8] Windows 11 also introduces "Mica", a new opaque Material that is tinted with the color of the desktop wallpaper.^[9][10]

Start menu[]

The Start menu has been significantly redesigned in Windows 11, adhering to the principles of the updated Fluent Design System. The menu has now been moved to the center (but can be moved back to the left-hand corner), with the Live Tiles feature from Windows 8 being replaced by a set of pinned apps and a new cloud-powered "Recommended" section that shows recently opened files and documents from any location, including a PC, a smartphone, and OneDrive. The new Start menu also includes a search box.

Taskbar[]

The Taskbar has also been center-aligned, and now includes new animations for pinning, rearranging, minimizing and switching apps on the Taskbar.^[11] The buttons can still be moved to the left-hand corner as in Windows 10.

Notification Center & Quick Settings[]

The Action Center from Windows 10 has been replaced by a Notification Center and a Quick Settings menu, both accessible from the lower-right corner of the Taskbar. The Notification Center contains all the user's notifications and a full-month calendar, while the Quick Settings menu lets the user manage common PC settings quickly and easily like Volume, Brightness, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and . Directly above the Quick Settings menu, the user can see media playback information when watching a video on, for example, YouTube, or when listening to music in apps like Spotify.

File Explorer[]

The File Explorer on Windows 11 has been refreshed with the Fluent Design System and the Ribbon interface has been replaced with a new command bar. It also introduces revamped context menus with rounded corners, larger text, and Acrylic. App developers will also be able to extend the new context menus.

Themes[]

In addition to brand new default themes on Windows 11 for both Light and Dark mode, it also includes four new additional themes. Windows 11 also adds new high contrast themes for people with visual impairments.

Sounds[]

Windows 11 introduces a new set of system sounds. The sounds are also slightly different depending on whether the theme is set to light or dark mode. In addition, a new Windows startup sound replaces the one used since Windows Vista.

Widgets[]

Windows 11 adds a new taskbar flyout named "Widgets", which displays a panel with Microsoft Start, a news aggregator with personalized stories and content (expanding upon the "news and interests" panel introduced in later builds of Windows 10). The user can customize the panel by adding or removing widgets, rearranging, resizing, and personalizing the content.

Other UI improvements[]

• Windows 11 updates several system dialog boxes such as the alert for when the battery is running low.
• The taskbar previews have been updated to reflect Windows 11's new visual design.
• The hidden icons flyout on the lower-right corner of the taskbar has also been redesigned to match Windows 11's visuals.

Multitasking[]

Snap layouts[]

Users can now hover over a window's maximize button to view available snap layouts, and then click a zone to snap the window. They will then be guided to snap windows to the rest of the zones within the layout using a guided snap assist. There is a set of four available snap layouts on smaller screens.

Snap groups[]

Snap groups are a way to easily switch back to a set of snapped windows.

Virtual desktops[]

Virtual desktops can be accessed via the Task View feature on the Taskbar. Users can reorder and customize the background for each of their desktops. They can also hover over the Task View button on the Taskbar to quickly access their desktops or to create a new one.

Docking[]

When the user undocks a laptop, the windows on the monitor will be minimized, and when the laptop is redocked to a monitor, Windows will put everything exactly where it was before.

Input[]

Touch keyboard[]

Windows 11 introduces thirteen new themes to customize the touch keyboard, including 3 hardware matching themes that match the Surface keyboard colors. It also adds a new theme engine that allows the user to create a custom theme using background images. In addition, Windows 11 adds the ability to resize the touch keyboard.

Voice typing[]

Windows 11 includes a new voice typing launcher to easily start voice typing in a selected field. It is turned off by default, but it can be turned on in the Settings and placed in any area of the screen.

Touch improvements[]

Windows 11 also features improvement to touch-based interactions. Tablet mode is removed;^[12] instead, Windows will automatically adapt when needed. New and improved gestures can be used on tablets and touchscreens.^[2][13] App windows now have larger touch targets, and will automatically arrange themselves in split view when the screen is rotated. Windows 11 seems to be optimized for desktops and tablets without combining the two like in Windows 8 and Windows 10.

Pen menu[]

For digital pen users, a new pen menu has been added, which is accessible by clicking the pen icon on the taskbar. By default, it contains two apps which can be customized by clicking the gear icon and selecting "Edit pen menu". In the flyout, users can add up to four of their favorite drawing or writing apps to the pen menu to open them quickly when using a pen.

Language and input switcher[]

A switcher that will show up next to the Quick Settings menu allows the user to switch languages and keyboard layouts. Users can press the Windows + Spacebar keyboard shortcut to toggle between input methods.

Display improvements[]

Dynamic refresh rate[]

Dynamic Refresh Rate allows the PC to automatically boost the refresh rate when scrolling or inking and lower, when possible, to save battery power.

Other display improvements[]

Other display improvements coming with Windows 11 include Auto HDR, Content adaptive brightness control disabling (CABC), HDR support to color managed apps, and HDR certification.

Development platform[]

Windows Subsystem for Android[]

Windows 11 will also allow users to install and run Android apps onto their device using the new Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) and the Android Open Source Project (AOSP). This runs with Intel Bridge Technology, a runtime postcompiler that enables applications written for other architectures to run on x86.^[14][15] These apps can be obtained from within the Microsoft Store via the Amazon Appstore,^{[16][17][18][19]} or through any source.^[20]

Bundled software[]

Microsoft Store[]

The Microsoft Store, which serves as a unified storefront for apps and other content, is also redesigned in Windows 11. Microsoft now allows developers to distribute Windows API, progressive web applications, and other packaging technologies in the Microsoft Store, alongside the standard Universal Windows Platform apps.^[21] The new Microsoft Store will also enable users to install Android apps onto their device via the Amazon Appstore. This feature will require a Microsoft account, an Amazon account, and a one-time install for Windows Amazon Appstore client.^{[16][17][18][19]}

Microsoft Teams[]

The collaboration platform Microsoft Teams is directly integrated into Windows 11. Skype will no longer be bundled with the OS by default.^[22][23][24] Teams will appear as an icon in the Windows taskbar, letting users message and call their contacts instantly.^[25]

Settings[]

The Settings app first introduced in Windows 8 has been redesigned to be visually pleasing, easy to use and inclusive in Windows 11. It has a left-handed navigation that persists between pages, and it adds breadcrumbs as the user navigates deeper into the settings to help them know where they are and not to get lost. The Settings app also includes brand new pages, with new controls at the top that highlight key information and frequently used settings for the user to adjust as they need. These new controls span across several category pages like System, Bluetooth & devices, Personalization, Accounts and Windows Update. It also adds expandable boxes for pages with many settings.

Snipping Tool[]

In Windows 11, both the classic Snipping Tool and Snip & Sketch apps have been replaced by a new Snipping Tool app that represents the best experiences of both apps in the next generation of screen capture for Windows. The Snipping Tool on Windows 11 includes a new user interface that builds off the classic app with extra features like the Windows + Shift + S keyboard shortcut from Snip & Sketch and richer editing. Windows 11 also introduces a new Settings page for the Snipping Tool. In addition, the new Snipping Tool adds support for dark mode.

Calculator[]

The Calculator app has also been redesigned for Windows 11. Like the Snipping Tool, it includes a new app theme setting. The Calculator has been completely rewritten in C# and includes several new features.

Mail & Calendar[]

The Mail and Calendar apps have been updated with a new visual style. They include rounded corners and other adjustments to make them look and feel part of Windows 11. The Mail and Calendar apps can also reflect the Windows theme.

Clock[]

The Clock app is getting an updated look with support for Focus Sessions and Spotify integration on Windows 11. The Focus Sessions integration in Windows 11 will allow the user to pick a task from Microsoft To Do and play music in the background while they complete their work.

Photos[]

Windows 11 updates the Photos app with a new viewing experience, editing features, Fluent Design, WinUI controls, rounded corners, and more. Photos app, which would be set up as the default image viewer in Windows 11, will allow users to explore collection, album, and folders. The Collection feature remains unchanged, and it will show the most recent photos and screenshots, organized in proper order by date. Albums are also generated automatically using Microsoft’s UI technology, but users can always customize the experience with their own albums. The Photos app is also getting a floating menu with new editing controls and will let users compare up to 4 pictures at once.

Tips[]

Windows 11 introduces a refreshed Tips app with a new look and additional UI updates. It comes with over 100 new tips to get started with Windows 11 or to learn new things.

Paint[]

One of the oldest Windows apps, which remained unchanged since Windows 7, has been given an updated user interface with rounded corners and the Mica material for Windows 11. The most prominent change to Paint is a new simplified toolbar, a rounded color palette, and a new set of drop-down menus.

Other applications[]

• Notepad^[26] and Voice Recorder^[27] also feature refreshed interfaces. These apps now feature designs adhering to the Fluent Design principles.
• The Microsoft Office apps have been redesigned to align with Fluent Design.
• Windows 11 is also getting a new Media Player app, which will likely act as a replacement for Windows 10's Movies & TV app.^[28]

Multimedia and gaming[]

Xbox app[]

An updated Xbox app is bundled with Windows 11.^[29][30] Features such as Xbox Cloud Gaming and Xbox Game Pass are integrated directly into the app.^[29]

Other features[]

• The Auto HDR and DirectStorage technologies introduced by the Xbox Series X and Series S will be integrated into Windows 11; the latter requires a graphics card supporting DirectX 12 Ultimate, and an NVMe solid-state drive.^[2][31]

System security and performance[]

Microsoft promoted performance improvements such as smaller update sizes, faster web browsing in "any browser", faster wake time from sleep mode, and faster Windows Hello authentication.^[32][33]

Security[]

As part of the minimum system requirements, Windows 11 only officially supports devices with a Trusted Platform Module 2.0 security coprocessor.^[34][35] According to Microsoft, the TPM 2.0 coprocessor is a "critical building block" for protection against firmware and hardware attacks. In addition, Microsoft now requires devices with Windows 11 to include virtualization-based security (VBS), hypervisor-protected code integrity (HVCI), and Secure Boot built-in and enabled by default.^[36] The operating system also features hardware-enforced stack protection for supported Intel and AMD processors for protection against zero-day exploits. Windows 11 Home requires an internet connection and a Microsoft account for first time setup. ^[12]

See also[]

• New features by Windows version:
  • XP
  • Vista
  • 7
  • 8
  • 10
  • 11
• Removed features by Windows version:
  • XP
  • Vista
  • 7
  • 8
  • 10
  • 11

References[]