Not so way back, we revealed a short recap of the highest 10 options that Home windows 11 obtained in 2024. Now, with 2025 in full swing, listed here are the highest 10 options that Microsoft is presently growing for its working system. They’re both publicly accessible in Home windows 11 preview builds or require some tinkering to activate (unannounced modifications).

Word: It’s value mentioning that there are not any ensures that these options can be shipped to all customers within the Steady Channel. Microsoft is not any stranger to killing issues whereas they’re nonetheless within the ovens (keep in mind Home windows Units?), so preserve that in thoughts. If ready is just not an possibility, you’ll be able to attempt these items by enrolling your PC within the Home windows Insider program.

1. Improved Auto HDR

Accessible to all Home windows Insiders

In case you have an HDR-capable monitor or TV, you in all probability know that Home windows 11 requires flicking a toggle to enter or exit HDR mode, which rapidly will get a bit annoying if you play HDR motion pictures or play video games usually. Though you’ll be able to all the time preserve HDR on, the working system doesn’t look excellent with it. Future Home windows 11 updates ought to allow the OS to detect HDR content material and permit computerized HDR streaming.

2. Small taskbar buttons

Doesn’t work but

I actually hate to provide Microsoft credit score for restoring issues that ought to have been current within the first place, however it’s what it’s. Customers found code bits pointing to Microsoft engaged on the flexibility to have smaller taskbar buttons, one thing that Home windows has had for the reason that days of Home windows 7. The OS misplaced this characteristic when transitioning to Home windows 11, however now, evidently it is likely to be again within the close to future.

Tip: Do you know that Home windows 11 has a hidden compact taskbar? Whereas it’s not totally the identical as small taskbar buttons, it offers the OS a really neat, minimal look.

3. Gamepad keyboard

Accessible to Home windows Insiders

I really like this one. With the brand new gamepad keyboard, you’ll be able to rapidly sort one thing utilizing customary gamepad controls like sticks, triggers, bumpers, AXYB buttons, and extra, that are excellent for sofa gaming when your keyboard is away from you.

Curiously, sooner or later, the characteristic was shipped to all customers within the Steady Channel, however then Microsoft revoked it to deal with unknown points. I hope will probably be again very quickly as a result of it’s a nice characteristic for PC avid gamers preferring controllers over mice/keyboards.

4. New Begin menu layouts

Requires turning on hidden characteristic IDs

Home windows 10 customers who are actually on the point of bounce off the dying working system into the unknowns of Home windows 11 with a few of its UI and UX parts remaining hopelessly underdeveloped needs to be glad to know that Microsoft is engaged on a number of new Begin menu layouts.

The brand new layouts embrace “Class” and “Grid” views. The primary one routinely types all of your apps into classes like Leisure, Video games, Productiveness, and extra. The second lets you’ve gotten the checklist of all functions in a barely totally different view. Whether or not these two views can repair Home windows 11’s Begin menu stays an open query, and for a lot of, a third-party Begin menu substitute will stay the one possibility.

5. 6 GHz hotspots

Requires turning on hidden characteristic IDs

In case you have a contemporary laptop computer, say a Copilot+ PC with Wi-Fi 7 assist, you’ll quickly have the ability to create 6 GHz hotspots for suitable gadgets. This isn’t a groundbreaking addition by any means, however it’s good to see Microsoft holding its working system fashionable and suitable with the newest trade requirements.

6. Redesigned battery indicator

Accessible to Home windows Insiders within the Dev Channel

I by no means appreciated the battery indicator in Home windows 11. It’s too small and onerous to learn, plus it’s inconsistent with the one on the lock display. Additionally, checking the precise battery share requires hovering the cursor over it.

Fortunately, Microsoft is fixing that. A redesigned battery indicator is coming quickly, together with the flexibility to show battery share within the tray space. Lastly!

Tip: If you do not need to attend, a neat third-party app referred to as Battery Flyout gives you a greater battery indicator with share assist and some further options.

7. File Explorer enhancements

Turned off as of proper now

That is one other small change that Home windows 11 wants a lot. File Explorer tabs are cool, however the truth that the app opens one other window each time I click on an exterior hyperlink (like “Open file location” or related) as a substitute of a brand new tab simply boils my blood and ruins your complete function of getting tabs.

Quickly, Home windows 11 will allow you to select what File Explorer ought to do with exterior hyperlinks—open a brand new window or a brand new tab. For now, the characteristic is turned off (Microsoft says it wants some enhancements), however anticipate it to be again within the close to future.

8. New PC spec playing cards

Accessible for testing within the Insider Program

Microsoft is making it simpler for customers to examine their PC specs in a single place and with out switching between Process Supervisor tabs or varied sections within the Settings app. The “About” web page in Settings will quickly allow you to see all the first parts like processor, graphics card, RAM, video reminiscence, storage, and many others.

9. New Share UI

Requires turning on hidden characteristic IDs

Home windows 11 has just a few neat UI ideas and options like Snap Layouts that allow you to rapidly prepare apps on the display. Microsoft is now investigating an identical concept, however for sharing information. As of proper now, it’s not documented and requires turning off hidden characteristic IDs. Nevertheless, as soon as turned on, you’ll be able to drag a file from File Explorer onto a devoted tray and onto the wanted app in a devoted tray on the high of the display. This idea ought to make sharing information a lot simpler and enjoyable, particularly on touchscreen gadgets and tablets.

10. AI-powered Home windows Search

Accessible for testing within the Insider Program; requires devoted {hardware}

This AI-powered characteristic can be one thing each Home windows person likes. Copilot+ PCs will allow you to seek for information and pictures in File Explorer and Home windows Search on the taskbar utilizing pure language. There isn’t a extra must know the precise title of the file or its extension. Simply sort “my presentation about elephants,” and Home windows will discover the mandatory PowerPoint file.

Additionally, the brand new semantic search will work within the Settings app that will help you discover the mandatory toggle and thus steal my job. Simply sort what you need in easy phrases, and AI will determine it out. Very handy for inexperienced customers or newcomers to Home windows 11.

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These are solely ten modifications we like in Home windows 11 preview builds up to now. What issues do you want essentially the most? Perhaps you assume the checklist ought to embrace different issues? Share your ideas within the remark part.