On the menu: a redesigned interface, new accessibility options, and improved native apps.
Nearly a year after the release of Microsoft’s new operating system, the 22:2 version of Windows 11 is finally rolling out, with some exciting new features.
A welcome evolution of the interface.
This 22:2 version is entitled to some discreet but welcome changes. The first of these refers to the Start menu. The latter was one of the disappointments for many users, as it lost many interesting features when switching to Windows 11. Microsoft had the good taste to bring some of them back; now it will be possible to re-create files with pinned apps and adjust their size.
The taskbar also got the return of a much-loved feature, namely drag and drop support. Now just drop any file on an app icon or folder to copy it there. The menu that lets you dock windows to the edge of the screen has also been made a bit more intuitive.
A slight evolution of the Parameters
As with every new version of the operating system, Windows 11 is also entitled to some new options in the settings menu. For example, we see that Microsoft finally agreed to integrate a “Microsoft Account” page. This means, for example, that you no longer need to sign in through your browser to manage your Microsoft 365 subscription and account settings.
But overall, this menu hasn’t changed much. These are mostly small and fairly anecdotal changes, like the ability to run Bing’s Picture of the Day in the background or changes to the parental control system.
Significant improvements in native applications
On the other hand, there are more interesting news on the side of the native applications of the operating system. And it starts with Explorer, which now has the proper tabs, just like a real browser! This is a feature that many users have been requesting for a long time, and it will make a big difference for those who work with many windows all the time. However, we will have to wait until October for this functionality to be fully deployed.
There’s also a new feature that lets you pin apps and folders. A little care that is of obvious interest in terms of productivity and comfort. The side navigation bar has also been updated to group the most relevant items into more intuitive categories.
We also discovered Clipchamp, a new tool that could be very useful; allows you to edit some videos on the fly. It is true that it is quite rudimentary. But it will work fine for those who have no interest in buying real editing software. We can also mention minor updates to the dictaphone or the task manager.
How to install the update?
The update is now available through the Windows Update utility. You can access it through a simple search or through the control panel.
If the operating system hasn’t notified you yet, you can force it to check for pending updates; Windows should offer you this new update. All you have to do is download it (which can take some time as it requires a major update) and then reboot your machine to take advantage of these new features.