Windows Is Testing a New Feature That Makes File Sharing Much Easier
Microsoft is testing a new way to make file sharing easier. In the Windows 11 beta, the company released a temporary shelf that appears when you drag files to the top of the screen. You can use this to transfer files directly to the apps you use most often, such as Outlook or WhatsApp. In addition, the company is also testing an improved version of Windows Search on PC, CoPilot+, which will help you find photos in the cloud, as well as two new Start menu layouts. All of these features are part of the Windows Insider program , but they are available in different channels within the program. Here are some details about each new feature and how you can try it out if you want to see it released to the general public.
Drag tray for easy sharing
Perhaps the most interesting among the new updates is the Drag Tray, a way to make sharing easier in Windows 11. When you drag a file to the top of the screen, a hidden Drag Tray will open and you’ll see several apps listed there. You can drag and drop a file into any app to quickly share it. There is also a “More” button that allows you to send it to applications not listed in the tray. If you drag a file onto the More button, the Windows Share menu will open to help you send it to other apps. While sharing files on computers has been pretty simple for a long time, this drag-and-drop tray is great for dumping files into apps you use frequently.
New types of Start menu.
The Start menu is the hub of everything you want to run on your PC, and it now has two additional views—Name Grid and Category. The title grid lists all the apps alphabetically and groups them alphabetically, while the category view is very similar to the app folders on your smartphone. The category view groups apps by type and creates multiple folders so you can see more apps at once. Both of these views are available on the All page of the Start menu if you are a member of the correct Windows Insider Beta program.
Improved Windows Search
For Copilot+ PCs, Microsoft is testing a version of Windows Search that lets you find photos stored in the cloud. You can enter a search term and the results will try to find a photo that matches your description, even if the photo is called IMG0012.JPG. This is currently supported for personal OneDrive accounts as long as you are signed in and connected to the internet. This feature is not supported for work or school OneDrive accounts. Microsoft says third-party cloud storage providers will be able to add support for this search feature, which is great if you don’t use OneDrive.
How to try these new Windows features
To try out these new features, you’ll need to sign up for the Windows Insider program and make sure you have the right hardware and the correct beta version installed. Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as going to the beta and looking for the feature, but it’s something you can do for now. On a Windows 11 PC, go to the Microsoft website and click the “Sign Up” button to sign up for the Windows Insider Program. Then go to Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program on your computer and follow the onscreen instructions to join the program.
Keep in mind that this program involves installing beta software on your computer, which may result in problems such as data loss, software crashes, or even your computer getting stuck at the loading screen. Before you join the Windows Insider Program, make sure you back up your Windows PC . Once you’re in beta, you can try drag-and-drop functionality and new Start menu views by selecting the beta channel and updating to Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4950 (KB5052078). It’s not currently available to those receiving beta updates based on the 24/7 build of Windows 11, but it’s expected to arrive on this channel soon. If you choose not to update before this cycle and choose to receive beta updates through the previous beta channel, you will be able to try these two features right away.
As for advanced search, it is available to those who have a Copilot+ computer running Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3291 (KB5052080). Microsoft is currently marking this update as optional and will change it to recommended later this year. Even if you’re using the correct update channel, you may have to wait a while for Windows Advanced Search to work as Microsoft rolls it out gradually. This update channel also includes improvements to Windows Recall, a controversial feature that records everything you do on your PC , and adds a new Trim tool that lets you edit screen recordings using the Snipping Tool in Windows 11.