We at the moment are within the second half of 2025, and it’s now time to check out what Microsoft delivered for Home windows 11 during the last six months. Nowadays, Microsoft ships new options for Home windows 11 each month, which makes it more durable to trace new modifications and enhancements. In case you are nonetheless on Home windows 10 and wonder if it is best to lastly go away the outgoing working system behind, possibly a number of the following modifications will enable you make the choice.

Be aware: A few of these options may nonetheless be rolling out.

1. Small taskbar buttons

In the end, Microsoft lastly lets customers allow small taskbar buttons, identical to in Home windows 10. The characteristic is fairly versatile, and you’ll decide one of many three choices: maintain icons as they’re by default, shrink icons when the taskbar is full, or maintain icons small on a regular basis.

You may allow small taskbar buttons in Home windows 11 by heading to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors > Present smaller taskbar buttons.

What I don’t like about this modification is that the taskbar itself retains its dimension. In Home windows 10, enabling small icons additionally shrinks the taskbar for extra vertical room. On this regard, Home windows 11 stays much less versatile than its predecessor.

2. Settings app enhancements

The Settings app acquired a number of welcome enhancements, particularly for inexperienced customers. The About part now has so-called spec playing cards, which prominently present your PC’s specs, such because the processor, reminiscence, graphics card, video reminiscence, and storage. Additionally, there’s a new often requested questions part that will help you higher perceive how sure parts have an effect on efficiency, easy methods to test whether or not you might be on the newest Home windows 11 model, and so on. That is hardly helpful for tech-proficient customers, however for newcomers, it’s a welcome addition.

You may take a look at the brand new spec playing cards in Settings > System > About.

Additionally, the Settings app now has extra Management Panel bits, similar to the flexibility to vary your mouse cursor, disable mouse acceleration, and extra.

3. Gamepad keyboard

That is one in every of my favourite Home windows 11 upgrades in latest instances. In case you play video games utilizing a gamepad in your sofa, the brand new gamepad keyboard makes typing a lot simpler. And it’s not simply navigating the keyboard with a stick—the keyboard makes use of practically all management parts in your gamepad for key modifiers, format switching, further buttons, and so on. It is rather well-made.

4. Desktop icons enhancements

I don’t use desktop icons (all my apps are pinned to the taskbar), however for many who do, Microsoft lastly fastened that silly icon backplate for packaged apps. No extra colourful icon backgrounds for packaged apps, one thing that has been nagging Home windows customers for fairly a very long time.

5. Much less nagging

Microsoft made Home windows 11, notably its File Explorer, much less irritating. It permits you to flip off OneDrive backup notifications that seem within the tackle bar everytime you open folders like Paperwork, Downloads, Footage, and so on. Excellent-click the notification and choose “Flip off Reminder” or “Remind me in 1 month.”

Needless to say when you set up Home windows 11 in on-line mode and together with your Microsoft Account signed in throughout the preliminary setup, the system will allow OneDrive backup with out asking you. Take a look at this text to be taught extra. Additionally, this text will enable you, describing 10 issues it is best to do proper after putting in Home windows 11.

6. Telephone Hyperlink within the Begin menu

The Begin menu is not nearly your pinned apps and proposals. In case you use Telephone Hyperlink, now you can have a devoted panel with a very powerful data out of your cellphone, similar to latest notifications, favourite contacts, standing indicators, recordsdata, and extra. If you don’t like this characteristic, you’ll be able to toggle it off in Settings > Personalization > Begin menu.

7. File Explorer enhancements

Microsoft has fastened loads of File Explorer bugs up to now and added a number of small options right here and there. Home windows 11 can now keep in mind your File Explorer tabs and restore them after a reboot. Additionally, you’ll be able to right-click a folder within the navigation pane and create a brand new folder from the context menu. This doesn’t sound all that spectacular, I agree, however it’s what it’s. Sadly, another enhancements, similar to the flexibility to open File Explorer hyperlinks in an present window, are nonetheless not accessible to the general public.

8. Improved Home windows Search + Settings

This one is for these with Copilot+ PCs with Snapdragon or the newest AMD / Intel processors. Microsoft is lastly fixing Home windows Search with the assistance of AI, permitting you to seek out recordsdata and system settings utilizing pure language. That is notably helpful if you don’t keep in mind the precise identify of the file or characteristic you want.

9. Copilot Imaginative and prescient and extra

The Copilot app has acquired a brand new characteristic that means that you can share your present app with the AI and obtain varied assist from it. Referred to as Copilot Imaginative and prescient, it will possibly analyze, supply insights, or reply your questions on what is occurring on the display screen. You may launch Copilot Imaginative and prescient by opening the Copilot app and clicking the glasses icon in your composer. Then, choose the app you need to share, and begin speaking. In contrast to the up to date Home windows Search, Copilot Imaginative and prescient works on all supported Home windows computer systems, not simply on Copilot+ PCs.

Additionally, the Copilot app now has the “Press to speak” characteristic (maintain the Win + C and begin speaking), and Home windows 11 permits you to remap what occurs while you press the Copilot key or the Win + C shortcut.

10. Digicam enhancements

With the newest updates, Home windows 11 permits a number of functions to make use of a single digicam. This alteration is principally accessibility-driven; for instance, folks with listening to incapacity can stream video for each an indication language interpreter and the viewers on the similar time. Nevertheless, it would even be helpful for everybody else, as opening the Digicam app or digicam settings throughout a Groups or Zoom name will not find yourself in a black sq. and an error message.

Lastly, Home windows 11 now has a primary digicam mode, which could possibly be helpful when troubleshooting digicam points.

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Along with all these options, Microsoft fastened plenty of bugs within the working system, so Home windows 11 is now higher than earlier than. The remainder of 2025 will deliver loads of different modifications and new options, so keep tuned for a brand new recap of the whole lot that’s coming quickly to Home windows 11 later this yr. Additionally, Home windows 11 model 25H2 is now confirmed on observe for this autumn.