Above: Accessibility options in Windows 11.

Windows 11 2022 Update was launched on September 21 in more than 190 countries. To deliver meaningful value, Microsoft first major updates focus in four key areas: accessibility, security, productivity, and connectivity. Also, in October Microsoft will deliver an additional set of experiences like tabs to File Explorer, new photos-managing experience, suggested actions, and share to more devices features.

“With last year’s launch of Windows 11 we gave the PC a modern refresh; making Windows the best place to connect, create and play. We added foundational security built into Windows at home and at work and made it faster and easier for you to accomplish the tasks you have relied on your PCs for most,” said Panos Panay, Executive Vice President & Chief Product Officer, Windows and Devices.

Making the PC easier and safer to use for everyone

Microsoft is building new features to ensure the content and information users’ needs is always at the fingertips, including updates to the Start menu, faster and more accurate search, Quick Settings, improved local and current events coverage in the Widgets board, and the number one ask from the user: tabs in File Explorer (available in October).  All of this helps Windows anticipate customers’ needs and save time.

With this update Microsoft will deliver a set of new accessibility features including System Wide live captions to automatically generate captions from any form of audio content on Windows 11. Voice access (preview) allows the user to control the PC and author text using only the voice, and Natural Voices for Narrator mirrors natural speech more closely, creating more pleasant-sounding audio to assist in reading or browsing the web. Nearly 1 in 5 people benefit from accessibility features on the PC.

Empowering people to be more productive

With enhancements to Snap layouts, the new Focus feature, as well as performance and battery optimizations, the new Windows 11 2022 update will help the user to be more productive.

Snap layouts on Windows 11 have been a game changer for multitasking, helping people optimize their view when they need to have multiple apps or documents in front of them at the same time. With the new update, Microsoft is making Snap layouts more versatile with better touch navigation and the ability to snap multiple browser tabs in Microsoft Edge.

Making Windows the best place to connect, create and play

Microsoft is improving Windows 11 to make communications, creativity, and gaming even better with Windows Studio Effects to improve video and audio calls, new creator tools, additional gaming features and updates to the Microsoft Store experience.

New Windows Studio camera and audio effects help the user look and sound better on conference calls, enabled by advanced AI – with Voice Focus to filter out background noise and make sure the user is heard, Background Blur so only the person is seen, Eye Contact to help make a better connection and Automatic Framing so the camera stays with people as they move.

Microsoft is also adding new creator tools to the PC to help people better express themselves and their ideas:Clipchamp, as an inbox app to Windows 11, makes video editing simple with templates, effects, and more. This update will deliver performance optimizations to improve latency and unlock features like Auto HDR and Variable Refresh Rate on windowed games. And with Game Pass built right into Windows 11 through the Xbox app, players can access hundreds of high-quality PC games.

Today, through Microsoft partnership with Amazon, Microsoft is expanding the Amazon Appstore Preview to international markets, bringing more than 20,000 Android apps and games to Windows 11 devices that meet the feature–specific hardware requirements. “In addition to a growing catalog of apps and games, we are also excited to share that we are moving to the next stage of the Microsoft Store Ads pilot – helping developers get content in front of the right customers,” add Panos Panay.

Delivering added security, management, and flexibility to the workplace

“Windows 11 is the most used and most loved version of Windows ever; this is both humbling and energizing. Windows 11 is also having a big impact on helping to keep you safe. Microsoft uses over 43 trillion security signals daily to inform our comprehensive security solutions,” Panos Paney.

To meet the needs of the increasingly complex landscape, the new Windows 11 2022 update delivers the critically important new security features and new management tools for increased IT efficiency. The new Microsoft Defender SmartScreen identifies when people are entering their Microsoft credentials into a malicious application or hacked website and alerts them.

Microsoft added a presence sensing optional feature to Windows Hello for Business, so that devices equipped with presence sensors work with Windows Hello to securely log users in when it is approaching and lock the device when it leaves. IT professionals can provide secure, real-time support through the cloud with remote help.

Smart App Control is also a valuable feature for businesses of all sizes. Available on new Windows 11 devices or with clean installations of the Windows 11 Update 2022, Smart App Control blocks untrusted or unsigned applications, script files, and malicious macros from running on Windows 11.

As a result, employees can use the tools they want and need, while the owners can relax knowing their organization is protected. Built on the same AI used in Windows Defender Application Control, Smart App Control can predict the safety of an application in real-time before it runs on the device. This is a great solution for organizations who are not yet using a modern device management (MDM) tool like Microsoft Intune.

Delivering continuous Windows innovation and value

Windows Update is now carbon aware, making it easier for users’ devices to reduce carbon emissions. When devices are plugged in, turned on, connected to the Internet, and regional carbon intensity data is available, Windows Update will schedule installations at specific times of the day when doing so may result in lower carbon emissions because a higher proportion of electricity is coming from lower-carbon sources on the electric grid. Microsoft also made some changes to the default power setting for Sleep and Screen off to help reduce carbon emissions when PCs are idle.

As Microsoft shared back in February, users will see the company release new features into Windows 11 more frequently in addition to the annual update. Microsoft will do this by leveraging the variety of update mechanisms in place including servicing, and Microsoft Store updates. Microsoft also shared it’s building on this with an additional set of experiences coming in October.

• Enhancements to File Explorer, including bringing tabs to File Explorer to help users organize their File Explorer sessions like they do in Microsoft Edge. The new homepage in File Explorer gives quick access to the favorite and recent files.
• Photos app: In an update to the Photos app in Windows 11, Microsoft will be introducing a new photos-managing experience that simplifies browsing, finding, management and consumption of the collection of photos. It also allows you to easily backup the photos with OneDrive.
• Suggested Actions on Copy: Copy phone numbers, future dates and get suggested actions such as making a call with Teams or Skype or adding an event in the Calendar app.
• Taskbar Overflow: Taskbar will offer an entry point to an overflow menu that allows users to view all the overflowed apps in one space.
• Share to more devices: Discover and share to more devices including desktops using nearby share.

Availability of the updates begins today. To learn more about the roll out approach for the Windows 11 2022 Update, visit this blog post from John Cable.