Why You Should Upgrade to Windows 11 2022
When Windows 11 was released last year, it was a radical upgrade. It literally changed the face of the old operating system with a new central taskbar and updated user interface elements. But it wasn’t quite finished : dark mode was missing, the taskbar was disappointing, and the new start menu left a lot to be desired . Windows 11’s first major update (2022) fixes some of these shortcomings.
This is an update with many fixes (both functionality and UI elements) and some great new features. If you’re already using Windows 11, this is an easy recommendation. Go to Settings > Windows Update in order to start the process. While you wait, check out everything that’s new.
Snap layouts leave everything else behind
Windows has always been good at managing windows, and the new Snap layouts feature in Windows 11 is a nice upgrade. You hover over the Maximize button to see many different pairs of windows that you can instantly split the screen into.
Now using the Snap layouts feature is easier than ever. Drag any window to the top of the screen and you will see these presets. Drag it over a couple of windows, release it and it will snap into place. It’s incredibly intuitive. In addition, there are also keyboard shortcuts for snapping windows to different positions.
Folders come to the start menu
The new Start menu is heading in the right direction with the ability to create folders and freely pin them. Drag apps on top of each other to create a folder and store them wherever you want. The pinned apps area is now also larger.
Drag to the taskbar (finally)
One of the biggest criticisms of Windows 11 has been about the design of the taskbar. While you still can’t move it anywhere on the screen, some of the old taskbar functionality works. Drag and drop finally works, so you can drag files or tabs and move them between different apps and windows using the icons on the taskbar (just like you could on Windows 10). The time and date are also displayed on multiple monitors, so hooray!
New touchscreen gestures make 2-in-1 devices more useful
Windows 2-in-1 laptop owners will love this update: you can now swipe up from the bottom of the screen to see the taskbar and running apps. Swiping up from the bottom right corner now brings up quick settings.
There are new game updates
The new update also has some quality of life improvements for gamers. There’s a new Xbox controller panel at the top that makes it easy to switch between games using the controller. Microsoft has also added support for Auto HDR and variable refresh rates for windowed games. Previously, these features were only available when playing in full screen mode. Latency for older games running in windowed mode in DirectX 10 and 11 has also been reduced.
Smart App Control offers new security features
Every app you download from the Microsoft Store is reviewed by Windows 11. But what about the apps you download from a random website? They may contain viruses or malware, especially as attackers improve their stealth. The new Smart App Control feature uses new artificial intelligence models to prevent malware from being installed on your computer. Business owners and administrators will have the option to turn it on or off, or leave it in evaluation mode only.
Microsoft Defender SmartScreen also plays an important role in privacy . This feature will alert you when you enter your credentials to a known malicious website so that you don’t accidentally give your personal details to scammers.
Task Manager Finally Gets Handling Windows 11
Task Manager was a common thorn in Windows 11 as it still used the old Windows 10 style. Microsoft finally updated it with the Windows 11 Fluent design to feel more comfortable with other native apps like File Explorer. Better yet, it also has a new dark mode.
System-wide live captioning
Live subtitles in Windows 11 were already quite good. While they used to be limited to media, they now work across the entire OS. Press Windows + Control + L and live subtitles will activate for any audio that is playing. There’s also a “Microphone” option that converts whatever is said in the room into live text on the screen. All of this processing happens on the device, which means nothing is sent to Microsoft’s servers.
And many more features
With the 2022 update, Microsoft continues to add new native apps. This time they are adding a new Sound Recorder app, ClipChamp for easy video editing, and a new Family Safety app.
Explorer sees small, noticeable changes. The “Home” section has been renamed “Quick Access”, but the group on the right panel where you can pin files and folders, also called “Quick Access”, has remained. Folder previews with small thumbnails in folder icons are back. And now you can open the longer original context menu using the keyboard shortcut Control + Right Click .
This new update also makes your PC greener. Windows will now attempt to reduce your carbon footprint by scheduling upgrades when the power grid is using low-carbon energy sources.
Finally, some new features are coming in October, including the addition of tabs to File Explorer, an overhaul of the Photos app, suggested actions when copying, taskbar menu overflow, and the ability to share on more devices.