Right now, Microsoft will launch December’s month-to-month patch for Home windows 11. The final Patch Tuesday in 2025 shall be big, as a result of in line with Home windows Central, there shall be no fewer than 16 new options included within the replace.
These embody varied design modifications to vital parts such because the Begin menu, particular enhancements to current features and fully new options. Let’s take a peek in any respect new options at a look.
1. Visible enchancment of the Home windows search
The Home windows search subject has been visually improved to match the peak of the brand new Begin menu design. This could remove some inconsistencies within the design. Nonetheless, there’s nonetheless the issue that the brand new Begin menu covers giant elements of the display screen for a lot of customers. It stays to be seen whether or not Microsoft will tackle this concern going ahead.
2. New “Share with Copilot” characteristic within the taskbar
Microsoft’s Copilot AI can also be making its manner into Home windows 11, this time within the taskbar, the place the “Share with Copilot” possibility will quickly seem. You’ll then see a thumbnail of the app you might be at present utilizing and might rapidly begin a dialog with the chatbot by way of Copilot Imaginative and prescient. As well as, the transition between apps within the taskbar needs to be smoother once you transfer the mouse pointer over them.
3. Adjustments to Home windows Highlight for the desktop
Home windows Highlight, the characteristic for dynamically altering background pictures in Home windows 11, can also be receiving enhancements. You possibly can right-click on the desktop to alter the background extra rapidly. There may be additionally the “Discover background” possibility, which supplies extra details about the background.
4. Choice to disable Drag Tray
Microsoft is introducing the choice to disable Drag Tray extra simply. This usually lets you choose recordsdata and drag them to the highest of the display screen to show choices for direct sharing. Nonetheless, many customers discovered this annoying. After the replace, you may deactivate Drag Tray below Settings > System > Close by sharing .
5. Higher darkish mode in File Explorer
There may be additionally one thing for followers of darkish modes. The darkish mode of File Explorer has been improved and given a extra uniform design in dialogue home windows, for instance for copying or transferring. The affirmation dialogues and different views are additionally being tailored. Nonetheless, it’s nonetheless attainable that some parts don’t correspond to the brand new design or that the File Explorer briefly flashes white on startup. Microsoft will proceed to work on this.
Home windows Central
6. New machine info card within the Begin settings
If you’re searching for details about your machine, you now not must click on by way of menus. It’s because a brand new tab known as “Gadget info” seems proper on the beginning web page of the settings, which shows details about your PC’s processor, reminiscence, RAM and graphics card, amongst different issues.
7. Settings for cellular units within the settings
A brand new configuration menu for cellular units seems within the Home windows 11 Settings app. Right here you may add new units, entry the settings of related cellular units or take away a tool out of your account. It’s easy and simple.
8. Redesign of the data web page
Microsoft can also be altering the look of the data web page with the December replace. It is going to now solely comprise a thumbnail view of the desktop background with an choice to rename your pc. Some sections may also be renamed or obtain new entries with additional info.
9. Superior settings with digital workspaces
Adjustments are additionally being made to the “Superior” part. It comprises a brand new web page known as “Digital Workspaces”, the place you may handle virtualization features such because the Home windows Sandbox or protected hosts.
10. Settings for Bluetooth keyboards and textual content cursors
Beneath Settings > Bluetooth and units > Keyboard you will see that new choices for keyboards and textual content cursors after the patch. For instance, the keyboard repetition price, reassignment of the copilot key or accessibility.
11. New default configuration for Fast Machine Restoration
Since September, customers have been ready to make use of Fast Machine Restoration to rapidly restore Home windows 11. Microsoft is bettering the default setting for this selection in December to make it simpler to make use of.
The brand new configuration solely searches for options as soon as after which prevents the consumer from utilizing different choices to resolve the issue. This could forestall the pc from persevering with to seek for options in a type of steady loop as a substitute of providing focused assist.
On Tuesday, Home windows 11 will introduce a brand new widgets board with a extra constant design. The brand new widgets shall be extra clearly separated from the Uncover board and can now not use a web page overlay. Notifications may also be displayed with an icon of the board to which they belong.
Home windows Central
13. Haptic suggestions for digital pens
Home windows 11 units with contact operate obtain haptic suggestions for the usage of pens within the type of vibrations. These accompany the interplay with sure parts, for instance when closing home windows.
Copilot PCs have a brand new context menu known as “Click on to execute”. Actions corresponding to open, save, copy or share are organized on this menu. There may be additionally a brand new enter subject that lets you entry Copilot extra rapidly.
15. Xbox full display screen mode for extra handheld units
The brand new Xbox Full Display screen Mode is now accessible on extra units. Till now, customers might solely apply it to the Asus ROG Ally and Ally X, however now the full-screen expertise in console design will also be used on regular PCs.
Navigation needs to be a lot simpler and smoother, particularly with a controller. The mode additionally reduces the useful resource consumption of the desktop and saves as much as 2GB of reminiscence.
You possibly can activate the mode below Settings > Gaming > Full display screen expertise after which apply the change by restarting.
16. Home windows Studio Results for exterior cameras
When you’ve got a Copilot PC, you too can prolong the AI-powered digicam options of Home windows Studio Results to secondary cameras. This consists of USB webcams and built-in rear cameras.
Along with the brand new options, the December patch of Home windows 11 may also comprise some bug fixes and closed safety gaps. As all the time, we’ll report on these in a separate article.
This text initially appeared on our sister publication PC-WELT and was translated and localized from German.
