Windows 11: Biggest Changes and New Features

Wondering what's new in Windows 11 and whether it's worth upgrading? We've been using it for months and have everything you need to know

 Microsoft’s spring update to Windows 11 is now officially live. New features include the first Amazon apps, a revamped taskbar, and more.

Microsoft will push the new features to your PC via Windows Update, the Microsoft Store, and new “experience packs” that will download quietly in the background and facilitate changes to the Windows 11 operating system. Updates to the Store will push new versions of Notepad and Windows Media Player, which will replace the older Groove Music app. Several years ago, Microsoft pulled the plug on the Groove music service. In fact, clicking on “Groove Music” within your app drawer should redirect you to the new Media Player app.

Here’s what’s new within the new Windows experiences for February 2022:

The addition of Android apps, via a subset of the apps available via the Amazon Appstore

The addition of a Weather app on the Taskbar

The ability to mute your mic in Teams, again from the Taskbar

Easier screen sharing in Teams, from your Taskbar

The (re)addition of the clock to multiple monitors on the Taskbar

Updates to Media Player and Notepad

The “update” may be delivered in chunks, so that certain portions of it may arrive earlier than others. For example, the updated Media Player and Notepad arrived almost immediately via the Microsoft Store on my PC, but the new updates to Windows 11 via Windows Update weren’t available when clicking “check for updates” within the Settings menu.

A radically modernize used, more consistent design for Windows belies what is really more of an evolutionary update to the world's most popular desktop operating system.

 

With Windows 11, Microsoft has taken a risk by changing up its operating system, though many of the changes amount to not much more than window dressing. Windows 11 is a response to competition from Apple and Google, both of which have been nibbling at the edges of the market-leading desktop operating system with slick new designs. Despite its drastically updated look intended to respond to the competition, Windows 11 functions much as Windows 10 does—with more polish and a few new features and conveniences. Coming after six years of ho-hum upgrades, this major overhaul to the look and feel of the world’s most popular desktop operating system is welcome news: Windows fans have something to get excited about.

Windows 11: Release date, price, and everything that’s new

After what seemed like ages of waiting, what Microsoft called “the next generation of Windows” is here. Windows 11 is a major, major change. It’s representative of a big shift in how Microsoft delivers Windows, but it’s also a big UX overhaul as well. On top of that, it’s getting Android app support, a new Store, and much more. Here’s everything you need to know.

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