Windows 11’s Next Big Update: New Taskbar, Emoji & Settings
▼ Summary
– Microsoft is testing a new Windows 11 feature drop, expected to roll out widely in the coming weeks, focusing on quality-of-life improvements.
– The update includes the new Emoji 16.0 set, adding emojis like a fingerprint and harp, accessible via the Emoji panel.
– A key Taskbar addition is a built-in network speed test shortcut, accessible by right-clicking the network icon in the system tray.
– The update introduces native Sysmon support for system event monitoring and a new Windows Backup feature for organizations to restore settings on first sign-in.
– Numerous other improvements include better taskbar overflow handling, support for .webp desktop backgrounds, and reliability fixes for login, printing, and file sharing.
The upcoming Windows 11 feature update focuses on refining the user experience with practical enhancements to the taskbar, new emoji, and several under-the-hood improvements. Microsoft is currently testing these changes in the Release Preview channel, with a broader rollout expected in the coming weeks. This approach is part of the company’s strategy to deliver continuous innovation through regular feature drops rather than saving everything for a single annual release.
A standout addition is a built-in network speed test accessible directly from the taskbar. Users can launch it by right-clicking the network icon in the system tray or through the Wi-Fi Quick Settings. This tool opens in your default browser to measure the performance of Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and cellular connections, providing a quick way to diagnose network issues.
The update also introduces the latest Emoji 16.0 set. This includes a handful of new characters like a fingerprint, a harp, and a shovel. They will be available in the emoji panel, which you can open with the Win + . keyboard shortcut.
Beyond these user-facing changes, the update packs numerous other features and fixes. Sysmon (System Monitor) functionality is now built directly into Windows, though it is disabled by default. This powerful tool helps with threat detection by capturing system events to the Windows event log. For organizations, the first sign-in restore experience is now part of Windows Backup, helping to automatically restore user settings and Microsoft Store apps on new or refreshed devices in enterprise environments.
Other notable improvements include:
- Taskbar Behavior: When the taskbar is set to “uncombined” mode, apps with many open windows will manage overflow more intelligently, preventing the entire group from moving to the overflow area when space is limited.
- Camera Controls: Users with supported hardware can now adjust pan and tilt settings directly within the Settings app under Bluetooth & devices > Cameras.
- Desktop Backgrounds: Support for using .webp image files as desktop wallpapers has been added.
- Quick Machine Recovery (QMR): This recovery feature now turns on automatically for Windows Professional devices that are not managed by a domain or enterprise endpoint management system.
The update also brings a host of reliability and performance tweaks. These include improvements to the login and lock screens, better reliability for Nearby Sharing when sending large files, smoother performance for the Windows print service under heavy load, and enhanced responsiveness for the Windows Update settings page. Visual issues, such as those with credential fields in Windows Security when the taskbar is set to autohide, have also been addressed.
All these features are currently available for Windows Insiders in the Release Preview Channel. The general rollout to all Windows 11 users is anticipated to begin shortly, starting with the non-preview security update expected by the end of the month.
(Source: Windows Central)
