Windows 11’s 2025 Update: Top 6 AI & Start Menu Features
▼ Summary
– Microsoft’s November 2025 Windows 11 update introduces a redesigned Start menu with a unified interface and responsive layout that adapts to screen size.
– A new Administrator Protection security feature adds an authorization dialog for unsigned apps requesting elevation, using an isolated system-managed account.
– The update includes a battery percentage display option and redesigned battery icons that change color based on charging state and battery level.
– File Explorer receives a “Recommended” section replacing Quick Access, and Voice Access gains fluid dictation with automatic grammar and punctuation correction.
– Click to Do for Copilot+ PCs gets improvements including translation, unit conversion, new selection modes, and touch gestures for enhanced AI interactions.
The Windows 11 November 2025 update introduces a suite of powerful new features and security enhancements designed to improve user experience and system protection. Microsoft’s latest rollout includes a redesigned Start menu, advanced Administrator Protection, and smarter AI capabilities for Copilot+ PCs, all arriving via a standard cumulative update for versions 24H2 and 25H2.
A completely reimagined Start menu now combines the Pinned and All apps sections into one unified interface. This layout automatically adjusts to your screen size and offers three viewing modes: category, grid, and list. Users can toggle the mobile sidebar visibility if their Android or iPhone is linked through Phone Link. The Start settings page has also been refreshed, removing the old Layout option and letting you hide the Recommended section entirely if desired.
Administrator Protection introduces a robust new security layer that prompts for authorization whenever an unsigned or untrusted application requests elevated privileges. Unlike User Account Control, which relies on user tokens, this feature creates a temporary, isolated system account to execute the task, then discards it immediately afterward. This method significantly reduces potential security risks. The feature is disabled by default but can be activated through Microsoft Intune or Group Policy settings.
Battery icons receive a visual refresh, and users can now opt to display the remaining battery percentage directly beside the icon. This option is found under Settings > System > Power & battery. The icon itself changes color based on status: green during charging, yellow in power-saving mode, and red when battery levels are critically low.
File Explorer’s Home page now showcases a Recommended section instead of Quick Access, highlighting recent files, downloads, and items from your Gallery. Users who prefer the classic Quick Access layout can disable this in Folder Options. Hovering over recent files reveals options to open their location or ask Copilot for details.
Voice Access gains a fluid dictation mode that automatically corrects grammar, punctuation, and removes filler words as you speak. Accessible via the Voice Access menu or voice commands, this feature works across most text fields, excluding secure inputs like passwords. It’s currently exclusive to Copilot+ PCs and supports English only. A new “Wait time before acting” setting also lets you adjust how quickly voice commands are processed.
Click to Do receives multiple upgrades, including an integrated AI prompt box, translation and unit conversion tools, and new selection methods. When you select an object in a snapshot, the action menu suggests relevant prompts for Copilot. Text selections can be translated if the language differs from your system settings, and numbers with units can be converted for length, area, volume, and more. Touch-enabled Copilot+ PCs can activate the interface by pressing and holding with two fingers. New selection options, Freeform, Rectangle, and Ctrl+Click, allow precise multi-item selection across text and images. The feature also supports Live Personal cards for organizational contacts and provides visual highlights for elements like emails and tables within snapshots.
Frequently asked questions confirm that both Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2 receive these features through cumulative updates, no reinstallation is necessary. Microsoft uses a Controlled Feature Rollout, so availability may vary initially. Note that certain AI features, including Windows Recall and Click to Do, remain exclusive to Copilot+ PCs equipped with a Neural Processing Unit capable of 40+ TOPS, alongside requirements for BitLocker and Windows Hello.
(Source: Windows Central)
