Trying to keep up with all the latest Windows 11 features can be confusing, especially during the Microsoft Build rush in May when Microsoft releases new features, then announces more. . This year is no different as Microsoft launches a series of new Windows 11 features, from practical to awesome. But what will come and when?
Microsoft now releases new features known colloquially as “Moments.” These Moments can happen at any time, which makes it even more confusing. Windows 11 “Moment 3” was unveiled at Build with a bunch of exciting new features coming soon — but Microsoft also revealed even more exciting features coming in the future.
We’ll outline what new Windows features are coming in “Moment 3” now, and which ones will be coming to your PC later.
Read more: 5 ways Windows 11’s new Copilot AI assistant will make your life easier
Features of Windows 11 “Moment 3”
The Moment 3 features we’ll cover below are considered optional and won’t launch until June Unless You’ve previously opted in to get new features early. They will arrive in what is called the “June 2023 Optional Non-Secure Preview Release for Windows 11,” likely on “Patch Tuesday” or June 13. They will arrive without takes some fuss, but will almost certainly require a reboot after a background install.
If you want these new features early, you can. Just go to the Windows 11 Settings menu, then Windows Update. Select “Get the latest updates as soon as they are available” and turn the toggle to “on.”
Microsoft often releases smaller quality of life features as part of individual Moments, and Moments 3 is no exception. Microsoft publicly tested these features earlier this month as part of the Insider Preview beta 22621.1776 (Release Channel) and has now published them as a final release.
Wider Widgets: One of the more interesting additions to Windows 11 is the Widget tweak, which will provide more space for user-configured apps. Widgets will be wider — three columns, instead of two — and Microsoft also promises a more personalized feed. Microsoft has introduced a new Widgets picker, which will provide a small preview of what the user’s chosen widget will look like and instructions for finding even more widgets. (However, the selector can be delayed.)
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Sensor settings: Some laptops have presence sensors, which automatically dim the screen when you leave and lock the PC for security. A new installation in Settings > Privacy & security > Presence sensor will allow you to manage this.
VPN icon: You’ll see a small “shield” icon on your Taskbar when you’re surfing on one of our best VPNs.
Microsoft
USB4 Hub and Settings: Intel-powered laptops often connect to Thunderbolt ports. However, USB4 is an almost identical feature found primarily on AMD Ryzen laptops. Regardless, this new Windows Settings page provides information about the system’s USB4 capabilities and included peripherals.
Bluetooth extension: Windows 11 will now support Bluetooth Low Energy Audio, a low-energy audio standard supported by headphones like the Galaxy Buds2 and Buds2 Pro.
Account badge: You might not like it, but you may see a small exclamation mark (“!”) attached to your account name in the Start menu, alerting you when your Microsoft account needs attention . This has been linked to helpful reminders, aka ads, for other Windows features.
Live subtitle language expansion: Live captions are one of Windows 11’s more useful new features, providing subtitles for content that isn’t always available. Live captions will now be offered in 10 additional languages, including Chinese, various English dialects, and French, German, Spanish, etc.
Based on what Microsoft released in previous previews, we believe you’ll also see the following smaller changes as part of the Moment 3 release:
- New print screen shortcut: We’ve documented how the PrtScn key will now open the Snipping Tool application.
- OneDrive storage indicator: You’ll see the total storage allocated to all of your OneDrive subscriptions displayed in Account page in the Windows 11 Settings app.
- Copy 2FA: If you have a phone connected to your PC via Phone Link, you can now automatically copy any two-factor authentication (2FA) codes you receive from other services.
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- Touch keyboard options: New one Settings > Time and language > Text input > Touch keyboard settings allow you to always show the touch keyboard, never, or only when you disconnect the hardware keyboard. This is useful for devices like the Microsoft Surface Pro line, which include a detachable hardware keyboard.
- Second clock: Want to see the actual seconds in the System Tray clock app? Now you can.
- Bing Chat AI shortcut in search: Just like the Bing Chat shortcut in the search box once clicked, you will now see a small Bing Chat icon in the search box. That will change to your company logo if you sign in with a company account.
- Content adaptive brightness control: If you own a two-in-one device or laptop, this feature can brighten or dim areas of the screen depending on the content. It’s not quite HDR but it’s close.
New Windows 11 features beyond Moments 3
Microsoft has also revealed additional features that will be available on Windows 11, but the future date has not been revealed. Some features we’ve seen or expect to see in the Windows Insider beta code, while others may be pushed to Windows PCs via the Moments mechanism.
WinRAR support: Thankfully, WinRAR, 7-Zip, GZ and other compression formats are being integrated into Windows. Microsoft hopes that this feature will be tested soon with the full Windows 11 release to unzip these files in September. The company hopes to let you create rar, zip and other archives around 2024.
Windows co-pilot: Build’s big new feature, Windows Copilot, will bring AI into Windows. Microsoft promises you’ll see Windows Copilot in June but hasn’t said how. We expect this to be a fairly large Windows Insider build.
Mark Hachman/IDG
Ungroup applications on the taskbar: Windows 10 allows you to display multiple applications on the Windows taskbar, individually labeled. Windows 11 is getting that back, too. This feature debuted in the Insiders (Dev Channel) release this week, hopefully we’ll see it soon.
Right-click to close the Taskbar application: The Taskbar-related trick will let you right-click on the Taskbar app and kill that process, just like you would with Task Manager.
Spare window: Microsoft is testing Windows Backup in an Insider build (Developer Channel). Windows Backup saves files, folders (and their layout on your desktop!), apps, etc. to the cloud, then restores them on your new PC.
RGB lighting control: You might not own a gorgeous array of PC peripherals with colored lights going up and down like a Christmas tree, but for those who do, we salute you. Microsoft said this week that it is adding RGB lighting controls to Windows, providing standardized settings to an industry that desperately needs them.
