Trying to maintain up with the entire latest Windows 11 features could be complicated, particularly throughout the Microsoft Build rush in May when Microsoft releases new options, then publicizes others. This 12 months was no totally different, with Microsoft unleashing a torrent of latest Windows 11 options starting from practical to fantastical. But what’s coming, and when?

Microsoft now releases new options in what are colloquially generally known as “Moments.” These Moments can happen at any time, which makes it much more complicated. Windows 11’s “Moment 3” was unveiled at Build with a bunch of thrilling new options coming very quickly — however Microsoft additionally tipped off much more goodies which are due at a future date.

We’ll define which new Windows options are arriving within the present “Moment 3,” and which will likely be despatched to your PC in a while.

Further studying: 5 ways Windows 11’s new Copilot AI assistant will make your life easier

The Windows 11 “Moment 3” options

The Moment 3 options, which we’ll define under, are thought of non-compulsory and won’t arrive till June until you’ve beforehand opted in to receiving new options early. They’ll arrive in what’s generally known as the “June 2023 optional non-security preview release for Windows 11,” most likely due on “Patch Tuesday,” or June 13. They’ll arrive with out fanfare, however will nearly actually require a reboot after a background set up.

If you’d like these new options early, you may. Simply go to the Windows 11 Settings menu, then Windows Update. Select “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available,” and toggle the change to “on.”

Microsoft has usually launched smaller quality-of-life options as a part of the person Moments, and Moment 3 is not any exception. Microsoft tested these features publicly earlier this month as a part of the Insider Preview 22621.1776 (Release Channel) beta, and now has revealed them as a last launch.

Wider Widgets: One of the extra attention-grabbing additions to Windows 11 is a tweak to Widgets, which can enable extra room for user-configured apps. Widgets will likely be wider — three columns, as a substitute of two — and Microsoft guarantees a extra personalised feed, too. Microsoft has proven off a brand new Widgets picker, which can present a small preview of what the user-picked widget will appear like, and steering to search out much more widgets. (The picker, although, could also be delayed.)

Microsoft

Sensor settings: Some laptops have presence sensors, robotically dimming your display screen once you stroll away and locking your PC to safe it. A brand new setting in Settings > Privacy & safety > Presence sensing will let you handle this.

VPN icon: You’ll see a small “shield” icon within the Taskbar once you’re browsing on one of our best VPNs.

Microsoft

USB4 Hubs and Settings: Intel-based laptops normally hook up with Thunderbolt docks. USB4, although, is a virtually an identical characteristic discovered primarily on AMD Ryzen laptops. Regardless, this new Windows Settings web page gives details about the system’s USB4 capabilities and the connected peripherals.

Bluetooth enlargement: Windows 11 will now help Bluetooth Low Energy Audio, a low-power audio customary supported by earbuds just like the Galaxy Buds2 and Buds2 Pro.

Account badging: You could not prefer it, however you might even see a small exclamation level (“!”) connected to your account identify within the Start menu, alerting you for when your Microsoft account wants consideration. This has been related to helpful reminders, aka ads, for different Windows options.

Live caption language enlargement: Live captions are one of many handier new options of Windows 11, offering subtitles for content material that don’t all the time have it. Live Captions will now be supplied in 10 extra languages, together with Chinese, varied English dialects, and French, German, Spanish, and extra.

Based upon what Microsoft launched within the earlier preview, we imagine that you just’ll see the next smaller adjustments as a part of the Moment 3 launch, too:

• New Print Screen shortcut: We documented how the PrtScn key will now open the Snipping Tool app.
• OneDrive storage indicator: You’ll see the complete quantity of cupboard space allotted to your entire OneDrive subscriptions present up within the Accounts web page throughout the Windows 11 Settings app.
• 2FA copying:  If you’ve a cellphone linked to your PC by way of Phone Link, now you can robotically copy any two-factor authentication (2FA) codes you obtain from different providers.

Microsoft

• Touch keyboard choices: The new Settings > Time & language > Typing > Touch keyboard setting lets you present the contact keyboard all the time, by no means, or solely once you disconnect the {hardware} keyboard. This is helpful for gadgets just like the Microsoft Surface Pro lineup, which embrace removable {hardware} keyboards.
• Clock seconds: Dying to see the precise seconds within the System Tray’s clock app? Now you may.
• Bing Chat AI shortcut in search: Just just like the Bing Chat shortcut within the search field after it’s been clicked, it’s best to now see a small Bing Chat icon within the search field. That ought to change to your company’s icon in case you’re logged in with a company account.
• Content Adaptive Brightness Control: If you personal a two-in-one or a laptop computer, this characteristic could mild or dim areas of the show relying on the content material. It’s not fairly HDR, however shut.

New Windows 11 options past Moment 3

Microsoft has additionally disclosed extra options that will likely be coming to Windows 11, however at an undisclosed future time. Some we’ve seen or anticipate to see in Windows Insider beta code, whereas others could also be pushed to Windows PCs by way of the Moments mechanisms.

WinRAR help: WinRAR, 7-Zip, GZ and other compression formats are being integrated into Windows, fortunately. Microsoft expects that this will likely be obtainable to check quickly, with a full Windows 11 launch for decompressing these information in September. The firm hopes to allow you to create rar, zip, and different archives someday in 2024.

Windows Copilot: The huge new characteristic of Build, Windows Copilot will deliver AI inside Windows. Microsoft guarantees you’ll see Windows Copilot in June, however hasn’t mentioned how. We’d anticipate this to be a reasonably main Windows Insider construct.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Taskbar app ungrouping: Windows 10 lets you present a number of apps on the Windows taskbar, individually labeled. Windows 11 is gaining that again, too. This characteristic debuted in a Insider construct (Dev Channel) launch this week, hopefully which means that we’ll see this earlier than lengthy.

Right-clicking to shut a Taskbar app: A associated Taskbar trick will let you right-click a Taskbar app and kill the method, as you’ll from Task Manager.

Windows Backup: Microsoft is testing Windows Backup in an Insider (Dev Channel) construct. Windows Backup saves information, folders (and their structure places in your desktop!), apps and extra to the cloud, then reinstates them on a brand new PC.

RGB lighting controls: You could not personal a bunch of blinged-out PC peripherals with coloured lights working up and down like a Christmas tree, however for many who do, we salute you. Microsoft mentioned this week that it’s adding RGB lighting controls to Windows, offering standardized settings for an industry badly in need of them.