Microsoft has unveiled the May optional update for Windows 11 version 24H2, enhancing the experience for users with Copilot+ PCs. This update introduces a suite of features designed to streamline productivity and improve user interaction, including the new Win + C keyboard shortcut for quick access to Copilot, a drag tray feature, and cross-device resume notifications for OneDrive files.
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- Click to Do EU availability: The Copilot+ feature is now accessible to users in the European Economic Area (EEA), with the ability to perform intelligent text actions in both Spanish and French.
- New ‘Ask Copilot’ action in Click to Do: Users can now highlight text or images and utilize the ‘Ask Copilot’ option, which opens Copilot with the selected content in the prompt box. This feature will be rolled out to EU users in the near future.
- New text actions for Click to Do: AMD and Intel-powered Copilot+ PC users will benefit from new options to summarize, create bulleted lists, or rewrite highlighted text.
- Click to Do shortcut for pen users: For those with pen-capable Copilot+ PCs, the shortcut button can be configured to open Click to Do with a single click, double click, or press-and-hold gesture. Additionally, Click to Do can be added to the pen menu as one of the four accessible apps.
- Windows Search improvements: Users can now type a setting directly into the Windows search box on the taskbar without needing to recall the exact name. EU users can also locate cloud photos through Windows Search.
- Image descriptions in Narrator: The Narrator feature on Copilot+ PCs now provides detailed descriptions of images, charts, and graphs, catering to blind and low-vision users.
- Copilot keyboard shortcut: The new shortcut, Win + C, allows users to open Copilot quickly. Holding the combination for two seconds initiates a voice conversation with the assistant, while Alt + Spacebar offers another way to launch this press-to-talk feature.
- Cross-device resume notifications: Insiders will receive notifications prompting them to continue editing a OneDrive file last viewed on their phone, enhancing continuity across devices.
- Energy saver controls for IT admins: New group policies and MDM configurations empower IT administrators to manage energy saver settings, extending battery life by limiting background activities and dimming the screen.
- HDR and Dolby Vision controls: Users can now stream HDR video even when HDR is disabled. Additionally, a new toggle allows Insiders to independently control Dolby Vision settings on compatible PCs.
- New FAQs section in Settings: A newly introduced FAQs section under Settings > System > About assists users in finding answers to common inquiries regarding their PC and Windows 11, covering topics like system setup, performance, and compatibility.
- Mouse settings: Access to mouse settings has been simplified under Settings > Accessibility > Mouse, featuring updated icons for pointer speed and precision, along with new customization options for the mouse indicator and hover activation time.
- Windows Share image editing features: Users can now crop, rotate, and apply filters to images shared through the Windows Share window, enhancing the sharing experience.
- New Drag tray area: When dragging local files from File Explorer or the desktop, a new drag tray area appears at the top of the screen, allowing users to share files with suggested apps seamlessly.
- Taskbar improvements: Administrators can now configure taskbar policies to allow users to unpin specific apps, ensuring they remain unpinned during subsequent policy refreshes.
This extensive list of features is set to roll out to all users with the upcoming Patch Tuesday update. In parallel, Microsoft has also released the optional KB5058481 update for Windows 10, which reinstates the clock view displaying seconds on the calendar flyout in the taskbar.
