The second part of this year was predicted to see Microsoft release the next significant version of Windows 11. Version 22H2, which is expected to arrive in roughly a month, will include several new features and adjustments. While the Start Menu, Task Manager, and Taskbar are expected to benefit from helpful upgrades with the 22H2 release, Microsoft is anticipated to introduce additional changes as part of its “Moments” feature drop later this year.
According to reports, Windows 11’s first significant feature upgrade will be available next month. There are about a dozen new major additions and updates, along with a variety of engine improvements and bug fixes.
Microsoft is finally bringing Windows 11 up to date with the Windows 10 experience in key areas, such as the Start Menu and Taskbar. For instance, your users will be able to modify the number of pinned apps with the 22H2 upgrade, create app folders in the Start Menu, and more.
Meanwhile, file drag and drop will eventually be supported in the Taskbar. While some of these improvements have already been included in Windows 11 Insider builds that have been available for some time, they will become broadly accessible soon.
This update also includes the revamped Task Manager without tabs that we first saw earlier this year. A few new pages are also being added to the Settings app, including a Microsoft Account page under Accounts and a Family Safety area with a specific web app for controlling home electronics.
The 22H2 feature update for Windows File Explorer will add an enhanced sidebar navigation UI, deeper OneDrive integration, and the capability to pin files under Quick Access.
However, it appears that the eagerly anticipated tabbed File Explorer interface won’t be included in this update and instead will be made available later this year as part of Microsoft’s ‘Moments’ feature drop.
Suggested Actions is another new feature. It shows a short list of options for the user while they are copying a data, phone number, or similar piece of information. These options include creating a calendar entry, storing contact information, and more.
The 22H2 update will also give Windows 11 a few small quality-of-life upgrades. Users will be able to move between apps by swiping three fingers left or right or minimize an app with a three-finger swipe in tablet mode. Swiping up from the bottom will open the Start Menu, while doing so from the right corner will display Quick Settings. According to recent reports, these activities include smooth animations for improved touch receptivity.
Additionally, portions of the OS will transition to modern interfaces from traditional UI/menus thanks to Windows Shell, including the minimalist, rounded-cornered, and somewhat divisive hardware indicators for brightness and volume. By displaying the menu from the top of the screen while moving an app, Microsoft is also improving the accessibility of snap layouts. The snap menu now only appears when the cursor is over an app’s maximize button.
Windows 11 22H2 will also install Clipchamp, a web-based video editing app for casual usage, in addition to the Family Safety app described before. The update should roll out on September 20, but it’s common for Microsoft to gradually release over various dates to other devices.
Plus, so much more
There are numerous further enhancements in the 22H2 upgrade. For instance, Microsoft has worked very hard to add many new features to the Options app and rearrange many settings. Focus was replaced by Do Not Disturb. The most recent app can be accessed by making a three-finger swipe to the left on a touch screen. AirPods and wideband speech are now also supported by Windows 11.
Is it worth upgrading?
While none of these updates are particularly ground-breaking, they do offer a solid, thorough upgrade with several improvements. Many of these improvements are simple to implement, such as the addition of drag-and-drop functionality for taskbar objects. It will be challenging to remember in the future which of these upgrades were part of Windows 11’s initial release and which were part of the 22H2 update. If you use Windows 11, it will surely be an improvement.
If you aren’t currently using Windows 11, you can update for free if your computer is compatible. There are several remedies you can try even if Windows 11 doesn’t function on your PC. Third-party developers are helping: The Rufus utility makes it easier than ever to install Windows 11 on incompatible PCs.
Windows 11 runs best on modern PCs, while Windows 10 is still supported until October 2025. Users of unsupported PCs should probably continue using Windows 10 for the time being. Windows 10 functions well, and you’ll generally encounter fewer problems if you go with a version of Windows that is still officially supported.
Interested in how Windows 11 can improve your business processes and offer a more efficient working environment for your employees? Get in touch with Wizard IT today. Our Microsoft experts will be happy to walk you through Windows 11 and answer any questions you might have.
