Taskbar improvements Archives

Winsage

November 11, 2025

Microsoft Starts Rolling Out Redesigned Start Menu to All Windows 11 Users

Microsoft released its November 2025 Patch Tuesday updates for Windows 11, featuring a redesigned Start Menu and enhancements for the 25H2 and 24H2 versions. The KB5068861 update includes: - Improvements for Copilot+ PCs: - Click to Do enhancements for tasks like translating text and selecting objects. - File Explorer updates allowing quick action commands when hovering over files. - Voice Access enhancements with Fluid Dictation for better grammar and punctuation. - Enhanced Windows Search with semantic search capabilities. - Redesigned Start Menu with a scrollable All section, responsive layout, and Phone Link integration. - Taskbar updates with a new battery icon indicating charging status and health, along with battery life percentage displayed on the lock screen. - A new security control for Administrator Protection available in preview. - Quality updates addressing issues with Task Manager and gaming handheld devices. Two changes related to File Explorer have been postponed for a future update: recommended files for Microsoft Account users and third-party cloud storage integration.

Winsage

October 29, 2025

Microsoft Issues Week D Preview Updates for Windows 11

Microsoft has released the Week D preview updates for Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2, introducing Preview Update KB5067036, which upgrades version 25H2 to build 26200.7019 and version 24H2 to build 26100.7019. Key features include: - Copilot+ PCs: Improvements to Click to Do, allowing text translation, unit conversion, object selection, and interaction with Live Persona cards from Microsoft 365. Touchscreen access is available via a two-finger press. - File Explorer: Quick action commands in Home view for signed-in users, with future support for work and school actions. - Voice Access: Enhanced Fluid Dictation for grammar and punctuation, configurable command delays, and added support for Japanese. - Agent in Settings: Now supports the French language. - Windows Search: Enhanced semantic search available on all Copilot+ PCs. For all Windows 11 PCs: - Start Menu: Redesigned with a scrollable All section, responsive layout, and Phone Link integration. - Taskbar: Updated battery icon indicating status colors and an option to display battery life percentage. - File Explorer: Home view shows recommended files for MSA users and supports third-party cloud storage integration. - Lock Screen: Updated battery icons from the Taskbar are now visible. - Settings: The Email & accounts page has been renamed to Your accounts. - Administrator Protection: New security control available in Windows Security or through Microsoft Intune or Group Policy. - Quality Updates: Includes bug fixes, security enhancements, and new AI model versions for Copilot+ PCs. These features are part of a Controlled Feature Release (CFR) and will be rolled out gradually.

Winsage

August 15, 2025

Microsoft Delivers New Dev and Beta Builds of Windows 11

Users of Windows 11 in the Dev or Beta channels of the Windows Insider Program can install a new build. The cumulative update KB5064071 allows Dev channel users to upgrade from Windows 11 version 25H2 to build 26200.5751, and Beta channel users to upgrade from version 24H2 to build 26120.5751. Notable features in these builds include new selection modes in Click to Do, improvements to the Taskbar with new animations, enhancements in File Explorer with larger icons, and various fixes across multiple areas for a smoother experience.

Winsage

June 27, 2025

Microsoft Belatedly Delivers Windows 11 Preview Updates

The anticipated preview updates for Windows 11 versions 22H2, 23H2, and 24H2 were released two days later than expected, including an optional preview update for users. The cumulative update KB5060829 for Windows 11 version 24H2 upgrades the OS to build 26100.4484 and introduces several new features: - "Ask Copilot" action for users with a Copilot+ PC and Microsoft 365 license, allowing easy copying and pasting into the Copilot app. - A new landing and pairing page in the Windows Backup app for future PC migration, enabling file and settings transfer during setup. - A return of the small Taskbar option, allowing users to reduce Taskbar icon size. - Enhanced Narrator feature with a new Screen Curtain capability for privacy. - Settings homepage improvements for commercial customers. - Windows Share feature now includes a preview option and three compression levels for images. - EU compliance enhancements for customers in the EEA related to Digital Markets Act regulations. Optional cumulative updates 22621.5549 and 22631.5549 are available for Windows 11 versions 22H2 and 23H2, respectively, including some of the new features.

Winsage

June 20, 2025

Microsoft readies new Windows 11 feature drop for next month — here’s what’s coming, and when

Microsoft is set to release a new update for Windows 11 on July 8, coinciding with Patch Tuesday updates. Key enhancements include: - Taskbar improvements with dynamically resizing icons and a wider indicator pill for open applications. - A visual preview feature for sharing links and web content, along with adjustable image compression levels. - A new PC-to-PC migration experience for transferring files and settings during new device setup. - Performance enhancements in File Explorer for extracting archive files. - The Screen Curtain feature in Narrator for enhanced privacy by blacking out the screen while content is read aloud. - An improved Narrator experience with guided prompts for discovering features. - Voice access now supports navigation and dictation in Simplified and Traditional Chinese and allows adding custom words to the dictionary. - Tailored enterprise-focused settings for IT-managed PCs. - Region settings will display the selected country or region during device setup. These features are currently in testing through the Windows Insider Release Preview Channel, with general availability expected on July 8. Users who opt for early updates may experience some features as a non-security preview update in late June.

Winsage

May 30, 2025

Windows 11 Version 24H2 Gets a Featured-Packed Optional Update

Microsoft has released the May optional update for Windows 11 version 24H2, introducing features such as the Win + C keyboard shortcut for quick access to Copilot, a drag tray feature, and cross-device resume notifications for OneDrive files. The Copilot+ feature is now available in the European Economic Area (EEA) and supports intelligent text actions in Spanish and French. Users can utilize the 'Ask Copilot' option to highlight text or images and open Copilot with the selected content. New text actions for summarizing, creating bulleted lists, or rewriting highlighted text are available for AMD and Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs. Pen users can configure a shortcut button for Click to Do, and Windows Search improvements allow direct typing of settings. The Narrator feature provides detailed descriptions of images for blind and low-vision users. Energy saver controls for IT admins have been introduced, along with HDR and Dolby Vision controls. A new FAQs section in Settings assists users with common inquiries, and mouse settings have been simplified. Users can now edit images shared through the Windows Share window, and a new drag tray area appears when dragging local files. Taskbar policies have been improved to allow unpinning specific apps. The features will roll out with the upcoming Patch Tuesday update, alongside the optional KB5058481 update for Windows 10, which reinstates the clock view displaying seconds on the calendar flyout.

Winsage

May 6, 2025

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5581 (Dev Channel)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5581 (KB5055651) has been released to the Dev Channel, introducing new features, improvements, and fixes. Key updates include: - Energy Saver in Microsoft Intune: IT administrators can manage energy saver settings on Windows 11 PCs through group policies and MDM configurations, optimizing battery usage by limiting background activities and reducing screen brightness. - Taskbar Improvements: The needy state pill for apps has been redesigned, and administrators can allow users to unpin specific pinned apps. - Graphics Enhancements: Improved management of HDR capabilities, including refined wording for HDR settings and independent toggling of Dolby Vision mode. - Fixes: Resolved issues with taskbar keyboard focus, startup sound playback, scaling after sleep, and cumulative update errors. - Known Issues: Users may experience discrepancies in build version display after PC resets and issues with Xbox Controllers causing bugchecks. - Recall (Preview): Users can opt to remove Recall at any time, and intelligent text actions are now moderated locally. - Windows Search: For optimal performance, devices should be connected to power during initial search indexing. - Task Manager: Users may see the System Idle Process showing as 0 after the addition of a new CPU Utility column. Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel receive updates based on Windows 11, version 24H2, with features rolled out gradually.

Winsage

February 26, 2025

Optional Windows 11 24H2 update brings fixes and more advertising

The optional KB5052093 update for Windows 11 24H2 introduces new camera options that allow users to use their cameras across multiple applications simultaneously, accessible through Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Cameras. A new "basic camera" mode has also been added for troubleshooting. Enhancements to the taskbar enable file sharing from a drop-down menu when right-clicking on an app, and File Explorer improvements include the ability to snooze or disable "Start backup" reminders, better performance with media files, consistent thumbnails for cloud files, and a fix for misdirected URLs. Microsoft has begun integrating advertisements for Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass into the Windows 11 interface, appearing for users logged in with a Microsoft account linked to Game Pass. Additionally, the update resolves issues such as volume maxing out from standby mode and misidentification of HDDs as SSDs in Task Manager. The update is optional and must be manually installed.

Winsage

November 5, 2024

Windows 11 build 26120.2213 (KB5045885) fixes multi-monitor desktop background and more

Microsoft has released the Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2213 (KB5045885) in the Dev Channel. Key changes include the temporary suspension of the Gamepad keyboard feature, improvements to the Start menu, and enhancements for users typing in Chinese or Japanese, such as hiding the IME toolbar in full-screen mode. Fixes include enhanced reliability and corrected spacing in the Start menu, adjustments in File Explorer for navigation pane padding and RAW image display, taskbar improvements including a search box for auto-hide settings, and general fixes for all users addressing game launch issues and Task Manager display problems. Known issues include a problem with desktop backgrounds not displaying correctly across multiple monitors. Windows Insiders receive updates based on Windows 11, version 24H2, with features rolled out gradually and subject to change based on feedback.

Winsage

July 26, 2024

Shock move by Microsoft: company actually makes Windows 11 better with taskbar improvements

- In a preview version of Windows 11, an option to duplicate a tab has been added to File Explorer in the right-click menu. - A smart tweak for the mouse scroll wheel allows users to change the scrolling direction. - Users can turn off 'enhanced mouse pointer precision' if they don't like that functionality. - To try these features, users need to join the Windows Insider Program as a tester or wait for them to be included in a public release. - The taskbar-related tweaks are expected to be available to all Windows 11 users in the 24H2 update.