Microsoft has been testing the 22H2 update for Windows 11 over the past few months, and now multiple sources claim the release is almost upon us. Microsoft hasn’t confirmed its plans, but it sounds like Sept. 20 is the big day. This update will bring a raft of changes to the taskbar, start menu, and more.
Big updates like this one often roll out in waves, so you might not be able to get it right away on release day. Once you do get it on your machine, you’ll see many of the features we’ve been salivating over for the past few months. At the top of the list for most people will be Start menu folders. Windows 11 completely revamped the Start menu, and users haven’t exactly loved the changes. Adding folders will at least make it a bit easier to get quick access to the apps you use often.
The taskbar overflow feature revealed recently is not confirmed for 22H2, but we will get drag and drop on the taskbar. The loss of that feature irked many long-time Microsoft fans when Windows 11 came out last year. Microsoft has contended it rebuilt the taskbar from scratch, so it had to pick and choose which features to implement in the initial release. Resizing and relocating the taskbar are apparently not important enough, though.
We’re still going to be bumbling through two different settings apps in 22H2, but Microsoft is slowly but surely getting all its apps updated to the new Windows aesthetic. Windows 11 22H2 will add a new task manager app, which has navigation tabs along the side instead of the top, matching the style of the rest of the OS. Windows Explorer is also getting an overhaul with the long-requested tabbed interface, but The Verge reports this won’t roll out with the rest of the features. It should arrive in a separate update later this year. When it does, one Explorer window will provide access to multiple directories, which is much easier than juggling separate windows. That’s something the macOS finder has supported for ages — it’s about time Microsoft got with the program.
Microsoft may have essentially given up on Cortana, but Windows 11 22H2 will include a new accessibility voice control feature. Voice Access Tools will allow people to control their PCs by voice. In the same vein, an Android-style live captions feature will arrive in 22H2, making it possible to get captions for any audio source.
If you don’t want to wait, you can join the Windows Insider program to get access to the Release Preview Channel. This group is on the final build of 22H2 right now, but future updates to this channel could introduce bugs that won’t be present in the final builds. Exercise caution when enrolling important PCs for Insider builds.
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