Microsoft is now shipping its first big update to Windows 11, known as the 2022 Update and version 22H2, this next release continues the vision that was first introduced with Windows 11 last year with more new features, UI improvements, and much more.
The company promises “continuous innovation” with Windows 11 version 22H2 by releasing new features more frequently than the annual fall feature update. This post will be updated as new features are revealed. In the meantime, be sure to check out our roundup of the best Windows 11 PCs.
The first Windows 11 22H2 feature drop has already begun, and it includes File Explorer tabs, a new Suggested Actions feature, and other improvements. Version 22H2 was developed shortly before Windows 11 was released, and it is now available as a free upgrade to all Windows 11 users, assuming you’re running Windows 11 on a PC that supports it.
Check out our comprehensive review of the Windows 11 2022 Update here.
What’s New on Windows 11 2022 Update?
Here’s what new
- App folders in the Start menu
- Better OneDrive integration with File Explorer
- Drag and Drop on the Taskbar
- Focus Assist integration with Notification Center
- New “Spotlight” wallpaper feature
- New Voice Access accessibility feature
- New Live Captions accessibility feature
- New gestures and animations for touch users
- New snap layouts bar when moving app windows
- New Task Manager app
- Numerous UI improvements and consistency updates
- New “Suggested Actions” feature when copying dates/numbers
- Resizable pinned area in the Start menu
- Tabs in File Explorer
This is not a comprehensive list, but rather a summary of the most notable changes and improvements included in version 22H2. Continue reading for a more detailed breakdown of the new features. Of course, we haven’t mentioned the hundreds, if not thousands, of fixes and under-the-hood improvements that Microsoft is incorporating into the next release.
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New OS New Features
On September 20, Microsoft announced the general availability of Windows 11 version 22H2. The update is free for existing Windows 11 users and eligible Windows 10 PCs. Because the update is being rolled out in waves, it may not be available in Windows Update right away. It should be made available to all eligible PCs in the coming days and weeks. Here’s a closer look at some of the new features included with version 22H2. Remember that some of the features mentioned here will be available to users shortly after the release of version 22H2 as part of its first feature drop in October.
With version 22H2, the Windows Shell is getting a lot of love. Microsoft is still cleaning up the user interface by replacing legacy interfaces with more modern, consistent Windows 11 designs. Version 22H2, for example, introduces modern designs for things like the volume and brightness interfaces that appear when those controls are adjusted using physical hardware buttons. For easy access to Focus Assist, it has been integrated into the Notification Center.
Microsoft has restored several features from the Windows 10 Start menu, including the ability to create app folders and adjust the size of the pinned apps area. Users can now choose whether to have an extra row of pinned apps or to reduce the pinned apps area to two rows in favor of a larger “Recommended” area. Drag and drop support has also been restored to the Taskbar, which means you can drag files into app icons on your Taskbar to paste them into them. This has been a Taskbar feature for many years, but it was missing from the first version of Windows 11. It’s good to see it’s back with version 22H2.
When you copy a date or phone number, a new feature called “Suggested Actions” will appear, presenting a small menu of options. These options will provide quick ways to add a phone number to your contacts list or create a calendar event. When moving around an app window, users will notice a new snapping layout menu that appears at the top of the screen. In addition to the drop-down menu that appears when hovering over an app window’s maximize button, this provides an easier way to initiate Windows snapping.
Microsoft is introducing several significant new changes for tablet users in order to improve the touch-first user experience on Windows 11. New gestures for touch users provide quick access to common areas of the Windows Shell. Users can now access the Start menu by swiping up from the bottom of the screen, and Quick Settings by swiping up from the right corner.
A three-finger swipe down the center of the screen minimizes your apps, while a three-finger swipe left or right switches between running apps. All of these animations are also fluid, which means they stick to your finger when performed, making them feel much more responsive.
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Settings
With 22H2, Microsoft has added several new settings pages to the Settings app, as it does with every new version of Windows. In the Accounts section, there’s a new Microsoft Account page that provides an overview of your Microsoft 365 subscription as well as quick access to other online settings and services. In the same area, there’s also a new Family Safety page, which is intended to provide quick access to all of the Family Safety options if you use that service.
Windows Update can now sync with your local power grid to help reduce emissions. Instead of installing updates as they become available, Windows Update will try to time downloads and installations with your electricity grid in order to use as much renewable energy as possible.
Other new settings include the ability to change the number of pinned or recommended rows that appear in Start, the ability to set the Bing daily image as a desktop wallpaper, the option to disable the System Tray overflow menu, and the ability to disable the System Tray overflow menu.
Microsoft Windows 11 2022 Update: Apps
With version 22H2, Microsoft has updated a number of in-box apps and experiences. To begin, File Explorer now has a new tabbed interface that runs along the top of the app. You can now have multiple File Explorer directories open in one window, just like a web browser, which should help keep your desktop tidy.
In addition, the sidebar navigation UI has been updated to better group different shortcuts to common areas of the file system, such as user folders or OneDrive. Microsoft has also updated the nearby share feature, which now displays other devices on a private network as well as devices within Bluetooth range. You can also use the file share UI to share local files directly to OneDrive.
When you open File Explorer, you will notice a new “pinned files” section in the Quick Access area. Users can pin any file to this area and have it saved permanently for later access. The File Explorer has also gained more OneDrive integration, with a new drop-down menu that appears when you’re inside a OneDrive directly, displaying how much cloud storage you’re using.
Task Manager has been updated with a new interface that matches the rest of Windows 11. It has a new sidebar navigation UI that automatically collapses when the window size is reduced. There will also be a new Sound Recorder app with new output options, an audio visualizer, and a much-improved user interface.
Two new apps, Clipchamp and Family Safety, come pre-installed with version 22H2. Family Safety is a web app that provides quick access to your family overview, including your children’s locations, upcoming activities in your shared family calendar, and other tools to help you manage your household. This service is ideal for families who own Windows and Xbox PCs, as well as Android devices that have the Microsoft Launcher and Family Safety apps installed.
Clipchamp is a new web-based video editor that will be included with Windows 11 in the future. The app is free to use, but there are paid monthly tiers available if you want to access more effects and rendering options.
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Microsoft Windows 11 2022 Update availability
On September 20, Microsoft officially announced the general availability of Windows 11 version 22H2. Existing Windows 11 users and eligible Windows 10 PCs can download the update for free. Because the update is being rolled out in stages, it may not be available in Windows Update right away. In the coming days and weeks, it should be made available to all eligible PCs.
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